Leonard "Lenny" Craig Thiringer

Leonard Craig (Lenny) Thiringer, 78, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Lenny devoted his life to loving God, his family and his friends. He was born in Spokane, Washington, on December 18, 1946, to Hans and Edna Thiringer, and grew up alongside his two older brothers, Larry and Garry, in Spokane Valley. The family home was known for its backyard gardens of beautiful roses, colorful flowers and abundant vegetables. Lenny attended Trent Elementary and East Valley High School (class of 1965). He excelled in sports, lettering all four years in football, basketball and track, and enjoyed school dances, good friends and fast cars.

Lenny began his career as a heavy equipment operator, working with his dad and brother in the Northwest. His path later took him to Chicago, and from there his growing faith led him to a small bible college in Dodge City, Kansas. One day, in city park, he met his future wife, Kristin, who was riding by on her ten-speed. They married on December 9, 1973, and were blessed with three children, one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, three grandchildren, and fifty-one beautiful years together.

When the family moved to Canon City, Colorado, in 1976, Lenny found a new joy in working with youth at church. His commitment deepened as he took on leadership roles in Young Life and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Singing with teens in these meetings sparked a love for contemporary worship music. Lenny played the accordion as a boy, the organ in a rock band after high school, and now took up the guitar. He also worked for a short time with Road Home Productions, promoting Christian concerts. Years later, after moving back to the Northwest, he again found a home in music, playing rhythm instruments and singing with the worship team at New Life Church in Rathdrum and at the Union Gospel Mission in Spokane.

Professionally, Lenny’s career followed two distinct paths. As a heavy equipment operator with the Operating Engineers Union, Local 370, his earth-moving skills spanned the range of building highways, bridges, railways, and mines, to residential and commercial developments like the Kroc Center and Gozzer Ranch Golf Club.

In Colorado (Go Broncos!), an opportunity arose to teach at Canon City High School. There Lenny led the Industrial Cooperative Education (ICE) work-study program and taught other vocational courses. He soon found a new passion in coaching basketball and track. During those years, Lenny completed a degree in Industrial Science and Technology at Colorado State University and did some graduate work at Colorado University (Go Buffs!).

Ever industrious, Lenny continued working construction during the summers, even taking his family along for work in California; beaches, wind and waves, boogie boards, sea stars, dinosaur fossils, Mickey Mouse ears, earthquakes in the Redwoods, fighting the big old tent in the wind, tailgating off the back of our orange truck (OJ), our favorite family vacation. 

Lenny was passionate in his pursuit of life. He will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, his humor, his courage, his faith. He loved motorcycles, gardening, roses, mowing the lawn, barbeques, holidays, ballgames, westerns, and time spent with his kids and grandkids. Lenny enjoyed and treasured his friendships. He fought valiantly through numerous illnesses and rehabilitation stays, determined to return home to those he loved. He took his family to church, sought God’s heart, and found comfort in God’s love. Above all, he prayed.

Lenny will be deeply missed. As we mourn, we also give thanks for the extraordinary gift he was to us. Now he hears the music of heaven. He is reunited with loved ones who went before him, and most of all, he is with Jesus.

Lenny is survived by his wife, Kristin, three children and their spouses, Jessica and Tom Ostrowski, David and Milly Thiringer, and Petra and Lisa Thiringer; and three grandchildren, Caleb (13), Josiah (11), and Naomi (8). He was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Edna Thiringer, and his brother, Larry. His brother, Garry, went to be with the Lord the morning after Lenny and was surely surprised to find his younger brother already there, as the brothers had determined to go to heaven in order.

A Celebration of Life will be held at New Life Church, 6068 W Hayden Ave., Rathdrum, Idaho, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 2:00 pm. Arrangements are entrusted to English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.