Mark Harold Lenninger

View Funeral Webcast Mark Harold Lenninger, 63, died Thursday, December 8, 2022. He was born March 6, 1959, in Orlando Florida, as Mark would say, B.D. or Before Disney. He was the second son of John J. Lenninger and Marceline W. Lenninger, both now deceased. He grew up in Orlando and spent three years as a child in Marathon in the Florida Keys where he had many fond memories – fishing, swimming, saltwater fishing and playing with his friends and dog, Puddles. He graduated from Winter Haven Senior High School in 1977 and then joined the U.S. Army. After graduating from basic training at Ft. Bragg, N.C., he worked as a combat engineer and in military intelligence in Germany during the Cold War. While in Germany, Mark used his free time to explore churches, castles – and brew houses. While on holiday leave one Christmas he met his future wife, Cynthia Brown at the tender age of 14. Always a gentleman (and a scholar), Mark confessed to her later it was love at first sight. They secretly eloped and were married seven years later in Knoxville, Tenn. by a Justice of the Peace at the Knox County Courthouse on Aug. 14, 1987. Their faith being strong, on 12/31/1988 Mark & Cynthia had their civil marriage blessed in Winter Haven by the Rev. William L. Lahey at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winter Haven. Mark and Cynthia then moved to College Park, a bedroom community of Orlando, and he attended Valencia Community College. He graduated as a Registered Nurse, joining the profession of his mother and older sister. Later the Lenningers built a home in Leesburg, Fla. And soon thereafter had two children. Firstborn was Katherine Belle Lenninger and 14 months later came Walker Joseph Lenninger. Mark and Cynthia lived in their Leesburg home for 29 years. They raised 2 wonderful children any many beloved dogs and cats. They decided to purchase a home in Culleoka, Tennessee and moved there in September 2022 where Cynthia’s family members are nearby. Cherished friends and family will remember Mark as an avid reader, an intelligent, kind-hearted man, and as a lover of animals both great and small. He loved history, maintaining a detailed memory of past events, and became the family historian and storyteller. Mark enjoyed his granddaughter Luna Lenninger (proud parents of Walker and Dominique). It made him so happy to hold her and talk to her. Mark is survived by his wife Cynthia, sister Victoria Michele Grogan (Dan) of Littleton, Colo., daughter Katherine Walts (Alex) of Houston, Texas. Son Walker Lenninger (Dominique) and his granddaughter Luna; brother J Michael Lenninger (Kathy) of Brighton, Mich. and sister Marcia Lenninger of Lake Helen, Fla. and five nieces and one nephew. A memorial service will be conducted Monday at 10:00 A.M. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, Tennessee. Oakes and Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with the arrangements and condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.