Paul Stephen Duensing was born April 12, 1954, to Elden “Jack” and Glendora “Glennie” Duensing in Twin Falls, Idaho.
He was baptized at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Twin Falls. After living three years in Twin Falls and after the addition of a brother, Philip “Phil,” Paul’s family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, for six years, where Paul’s siblings John and Michael (Mike) were born. Finally, they moved and settled in Seward.
Paul attended St. John Lutheran School and was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. He was the last graduating class of Concordia High School in 1972, where he participated in athletics and music. During high school and throughout college, he worked at Odell Construction in Seward and helped build what became the World’s Largest Time Capsule in 1975 for the House of Davisson in Seward.
Paul attended Concordia University in Seward, where he chose to pursue a career in music, his lifelong passion. He played trombone in the band and sang in the A Cappella Choir, going on a choir tour around the world in 1974. He graduated in 1977 with a B.S. in Secondary Education for music. He met Nancy Beth Schoppa while singing in the A Cappella choir. They fell in love and were married in 1977 in her hometown of Plainview, Texas.
On a cold, Nebraska evening, Paul quickly accepted his first call to teach at Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Honolulu, Hawaii. There, Paul directed the 5-12th grade bands, coached middle school boys sports and taught Eastern Civilization History. Paul loved the water and learned to boogie board, golf, and played in a men’s softball league. The couple spent three years teaching, enjoying the islands, and making lifelong friends.
Since Paul and Nancy wanted to be closer to family, Paul took a call in 1981 to Lutheran High North in Houston, Texas. He directed the high school band, taught geography and directed the middle school bands in Lutheran elementary schools in north Houston. They lived in Houston for six years and had their first children, Amy Elizabeth and Markus Paul.
In 1987, Paul took what would be his final call to Lutheran High School in Denver, Colorado. Paul embraced the new opportunities with his distinctive hard-working and cheerful spirit. He directed the concert, jazz and pep band and taught social science classes at LHS. He planned and led a band tour to a different city every other year, which included fundraising with students at many Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies concession stands. He also designed, built and painted elaborate stage sets for the theatre department and directed the band programs in Denver’s many Lutheran elementary schools.
Andrew John and Joel Christian were born in Denver, and Paul and Nancy treasured time with their family of six. They took countless vacations in the Colorado mountains and national parks with their pop up camper. They also supported their children by attending their sports and music activities. They were active in church and Saturday football season found them cheering on Paul’s favorite team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Paul taught each of his children the instrument of their choice and also gave them the lifelong skill of house painting, which he had established as a business during the summer school breaks. He was also a skilled handyman, updating and landscaping a beautiful home and yard for his family. In later years, Paul enjoyed playing trombone in local community bands and church ensembles both in Denver and in Seward.
Paul is remembered as a beloved son and brother, a caring and loving husband, a fun and engaged dad, a welcoming father-in-law, a playful Pop Pop to his grandkids and a special brother-in-law, uncle and friend. He was a patient and easygoing teacher loved by his many students, an adventure seeker, a creative artist and a talented musician. He served a total of 35 years in Lutheran school education.
Most importantly, Paul is a child of God who trusts in Jesus as his Savior, and in that his family and friends place their greatest hope. They look forward to seeing him again in the resurrection of eternal life. We thank God for the gift of Paul’s legacy that will live on in each of us.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Phil. He is survived by his parents, Jack and Glennie Duensing; brothers, John (Deb) Duensing and Mike (Kathy) Duensing; daughter, Amy (Jonathan) Kopecky; sons, Markus (Heidi) Duensing, Andrew Duensing, and Joel (Kayla) Duensing; and grandchildren: Elias, Aria, Calum and Colette Kopecky; Sloane and Sienna Duensing, and Beckett Duensing; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
A memorial service will be Monday, April 8, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with committal at the Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested in care of the Concordia University music program. Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
