Anthony "Tony" Michael Dienstel

Anthony “Tony” Michael Dienstel was born June 17, 1967, in Portland, Oregon, the only child of Robert Raymond and Charity “Chicki” (Clancy) Dienstel. From the young age of 5, Tony was participating in motorcycle trials, winning first place trophies by the age of 6. Growing up, his family loved to camp and made yearly trips to Fishermen’s Bend Park in the Santiam Canyon. That camping trip became popular even among friends and family, and soon they were taking the group camp spot at Fisherman’s Bend over the Fourth of July weekend each year, celebrating Chicki’s July 3 birthday and enjoying the holiday events in the perfect small American town in nearby Mill City.  Tony spent his childhood in the Portland area and graduated from Benson High School in 1985. He was involved in activities at St. John Lutheran Church in Portland where the family attended. Although he loved to cook, Tony did not want his hobby to become drudgery by making it his job. He decided to become a welder and attended Portland Community College for certification. Into his adulthood he became interested in road rally racing in lieu of motorcycles and enjoyed his time with friends at the Cascade Car Club, racing and socializing. Tony was also a ham radio operator most of his life. After many years working as a welder, Tony decided he was meant to pursue his true passion for cooking, so he gave up welding and attended Western Culinary Institute. Once his training was completed, he began a fulfilling career working at senior living facilities, first at Calaroga Terrace and then Encore Senior Living in Portland. When he stepped in to begin cooking at these facilities, he was dismayed at what was being fed to some of the residents, especially the ones who needed their food pureed. Those residents were getting cheap canned food instead of home cooking, so Tony created delicious meals for all of the residents, and if they needed pureed food, he would simply puree what he cooked to meet their needs. The residents were immensely grateful for the delicious food he made for them. Tony decided it was time to look for a partner to share his life with and created profiles on Match.com and LavaLife.com, and was matched with the same person on both sites. Neither he nor his match had posted a photo, and sight unseen, he and Lanora Zimmerman began talking. Lanora remembers that his first words to her were, “tell me more”, which spoke volumes to her about who he was. Through many days and hours of talking, the two built a great friendship then fell in love all before ever setting eyes on one another. Lanora was looking for a man who loved and was involved with his parents, and Tony had a wonderfully loving and active relationship with his mom and dad. She needed someone who would accept and care for her children and Tony was ready and willing to love them all. Faith was also important to Lanora, and Tony was a Godly man and actively involved in his church. It was a perfect match and they both knew God brought them together, so the two were united in marriage on August 15, 2009. Tony and Lanora happily settled into family life with her three girls in Vancouver, Washington. They attended and were active in Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church during the time they lived in East Vancouver. In 2014, divine intervention provided them the opportunity to own a restaurant in the town Tony’s family loved so much growing up, so he and Lanora moved to Mill City and spent an amazingly fulfilling year running the Mountain’s Edge Café. They were involved in the local Lions Club and joined Calvary Lutheran Church in Stayton. Unfortunately, in 2015, Tony was diagnosed with lymphoma, and the couple was forced to return the café to the previous owners to focus on Tony’s health needs. Lanora stayed on as an employee for a year and a half until she was needed at home full time to care for Tony. On October 27, 2020 after a long battle with liver failure due to the lymphoma, Tony found eternal comfort in the arms of his Lord and Savior. Although he will be desperately missed by the family he leaves behind, there is comfort in the knowledge that they will all be together again. Tony will be remembered for his soft and gentle spirit, and for the love and kindness he showed to those around him, especially to his parents and his wife and daughters. He was goofy and silly and funny, and completely endearing to those who met him. Tony was preceded in death by his father just one year before. He is survived by his wife Lanora; mother Chicki; and daughters Rebecca (James) Unsell, Catherine Ball, and Taryn Ball.Tony will be laid to rest at Fox Valley Cemetery in Lyons, Oregon, on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at 11 am. The celebration of his life will be held the same day at 2 pm at Calvary Lutheran Church in Stayton.