Paul Andrew Lenti, Sr

Obituary Paul Lenti, Sr. Paul Andrew Lenti was born to Andrew and Caroline Lenti on March 14, 1923 and he left this earth on June 1, 2009. Paul was a compassionate and generous man, who had a great love for his family and for his fellow man. To those who knew him, which at times seemed to be the entire city of Tacoma, he could be both charming and generous, as well is introverted and quiet. It was often the case that he would disappear into the News Tribune, a Max Brand western, or a new and detailed book on poker secrets. He loved to gamble and had a deep enthusiasm for cards, horse racing, and of course local sports. He was also an avid lover of history and was fascinated with personal accounts from famous battles and this love was passed on to his children. In his younger years Paul served in both theaters of World War II, and upon his return to the states he married the love of his life Teresa in 1946, with whom he raised a loving family until her untimely death in 1985. Immediately following the war he purchased an Indian Chief motorcycle, and put himself and his young family through watch repair school with a goal of becoming a jeweler. It may be hard to think of this fiercely independent, willful, and dapper man as a biker and performing this intricate type of work, and fortunately fate had other plans for him and he was presented the opportunity to go into business for himself in 1955 as the owner of the Puyallup Avenue Dairy Queen. The "DQ" was truly a family business and over the years many generations were able to launch their careers with their first work experiences as the business grew. As a business owner, his life touched many people. His business life did indeed begin in 1955 with the Dairy Queen on Puyallup Ave; however this spawned a love for working with people and he and his wife Teresa soon opened subsequent Dairy Queens by Stadium High School and on 11th St in hilltop and became the owner/operators of Lenti's Restaurant on Puyallup Ave. This industry offered the interaction that they both loved. Remaining still is the Valley Tavern, which allowed him to continue with the personal contacts and companionship and in these later years became his home. Paul is survived by his daughter Janice and husband Alan Myers, daughter Vicki, daughter Carolyn and husband Tracy Anspach, son Greg and wife Charlene, grandchildren Monica, Ami, Nickolas, Katrina, Stephen, Dreyson, Paul, Emma, and Quintin, and great grandson Dylan, his many nieces and nephews and of course his special friend Sandy Sanderson. Paul was preceded in death by his wife Teresa, son Paul Jr., and sisters Teresa and Adelaide. Rosary will be at Gaffney Funeral Home, 1002 N Yakima Ave., Tacoma on Thursday June 4 at 7:00 pm, Funeral service is Friday, June 5, 2009, 12:00 pm, Calvary Cemetery, 5212 70th Street W, Tacoma, and memorial reception will be held Saturday, June 6, 2009, 11:00 am at the Tacoma Elks Club 1965 South Union Avenue, Tacoma. In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations be made to St. Leo's Food Community.