Rodney John Lenehan

Rodney John Lenehan, age 66, of New Hampton, IA, died on Monday, August 11, 2025, unexpectedly at UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital in Waterloo, IA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington with Rev. Chris Podhajsky celebrating the Mass. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, North Washington.

Friends may greet the family from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton, where a parish scripture service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church in North Washington on Tuesday.

Rodney’s sudden passing on August 11, 2025, leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, and selflessness. Born on January 18, 1959, in New Hampton, Rodney was the beloved middle child of Jim and Geraldine (Chihak) Lenehan. His early years were spent in the nurturing environment of a large family, where he learned the values of kinship and community that would define his life.

Chub’s educational journey began in Lourdes, where he attended school through the fourth grade before moving to Alta Vista for his fifth and sixth-grade years. He completed his formal education in New Hampton in 1977, alongside a very special classmate, Lucinda “Cindy” Tenge. Cindy and Chub’s lives had been intertwined since their births at St Joseph Community Hospital, only a day apart. Their friendship blossomed on the playgrounds of Alta Vista and continued through their high school years. The high school sweethearts exchanged vows on October 6, 1979, at Immaculate Conception in North Washington. Their nearly 46-year marriage was blessed with three children, and they made their home on a cherished acreage, where they built a life they loved together.

Chub’s professional life was as rich and varied as the Iowa soil he cherished. He held several agricultural and factory jobs until he found his calling as a full-time farmer for Eckenrod Farms, a role he dedicated himself to for 24 years. Chub’s love for the land was matched only by his passion for the outdoors; he relished the simple pleasures of side-by-side rides through the countryside and the joy of a good conversation with friends and strangers alike.

A man of many talents and hobbies, Chub was an avid fisherman and hunter, a skilled woodworker, and was always ready to tinker with the array of “lemon trucks” he had a knack for acquiring. His helpful nature was legendary; the word “no” was not part of his vocabulary when someone was in need. Chub’s selflessness extended to his years of service as a volunteer firefighter in North Washington, where he put the safety and well-being of others above his own.

Chub’s love for his family was the cornerstone of his life. The treasured memories of annual vacations at Leech Lake in Minnesota, fishing trips on the Upper Iowa River, and the deer hunting excursions with his children will be held dear by his loved ones. His reassuring motto, “It will be fine,” echoed the enduring optimism that he carried with him throughout his life.

Chub’s legacy is one of unwavering dedication to his family, his work, and his community. His absence will be profoundly felt, but the impact of his life will continue to resonate through the many lives he touched. 

Rodney is survived by his wife, Cindy; sons, Jason (Jenny) Lenehan of Long Grove, IA, and Jared (Jessicca) Lenehan of Woodward, IA; daughter, Angela Lenehan of New Hampton; 8 grandchildren, Jenna, Jaelynn, Jaci, Jaxson, Landon, and Devin Lenehan, Ayva and Aydin Selvig; brothers, Randy (Patty) of Prairie Du Chien, WI, Robert (Cindy) and Roger of Alta Vista, Ronald (Mark) of Edina, MN; sisters, Roseanne Schultz of Lawler, Rosalee (Denny) Lechtenberg of North Washington, Raeanne (Russ) Obermeier and Renee Lenehan of New Hampton; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Rick Lenehan, niece, Jennifer Schultz, and sister-in-law, Edith Lenehan