Scott Roy Lensink (58) of Mattoon

Scott Roy Lensink, age 58, of Mattoon passed away at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, December 5, 2016, at his residence.

A visitation will be held from 2:00 until 4:00pm on Saturday, December 10 at the Field House at Lake Land College. The memorial service for family and friends, celebrating Scott’s life, will be held immediately after with Pastor Rob Betts officiating. Interment will be private. Schilling Funeral Home in Mattoon is assisting the family.

Scott was born on December 27, 1957, in Sheldon, IA, the son of Norman and Faye (Englehart) Lensink. He married Michele Wasetis on October 14, 1988.

Survivors include his loving wife, Michele Lensink of Mattoon, IL; sons, Zachary Peyton Lensink and Alexander Parker Lensink of Mattoon, IL; father, Norman (Alma) Lensink of Bentonville, AR; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gary (Dene) Wasetis of Elwood, IL; brother, Steve (Lynn Alex) Lensink of Iowa City, IA; and sister, Sandra (Alan) Hoy Pinehurst, NC.

Scott was preceded in death by his mother, Faye Lensink.  Scott is also survived by nieces and nephews Tony Hoy (Alison Becker) of Rochester, MN, Alisson Moore (Rick) of Denver, CO, Allison Carroll (Michael) or Mt. Horeb, WI, Brendan Alex (Sonya) of Ft. Collins, CO, Kelsey Utter of Boston, MA, Ryan Utter of Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and Maddie Utter of Denver, CO, and other great-nieces and nephews.

Scott served for six years as Lake Land College's sixth president, retiring in 2013 to spend more time with his family. His career in higher education spanned 30 years, starting with a teaching position at Eastern Illinois University. He joined Lake Land College in 1993 as a business instructor and head coach for the Laker women’s basketball team. He went on to hold several positions at Lake Land College prior to retiring as president.

During Scott's tenure, Lake Land College emerged as a national leader in the sustainability field, attracting grants and attention from public officials from coast to coast.  In addition, the college received the prestigious Aspen Institute recognition, which named Lake Land among the top 10 percent of community colleges in the nation. The college also was named the safest campus in Illinois. Internally, he led the college community in the creation of a new vision and values and a strategic plan. While his accomplishments were many, Scott will be remembered most for his caring personality and dedication to students.

For over 20 years, he managed his own construction company, building and remodeling dozens of homes and commercial buildings in the area. Scott also served as president of the Eastern Illinois Business Education Association, received the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers Award, American Marketing Association Faculty Appreciation Award, Eastern Illinois University Management/Marketing Department Teacher of the Year Award and the Outstanding Young Men of America Award.

Scott served as a member of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Systems Health Center Board of Directors, the Coles County Historical Society Depot Restoration committee and Mattoon Foundation Board. He hosted international exchange students and volunteered as a coach for youth league baseball and football programs. He enjoyed restoring Willys Jeeps in his retirement, as well as hunting and fishing with his sons and spending time at his family’s wooded, waterfront retreat known as “the lot”. He loved family vacations and spending time in the national parks hiking and just being outdoors. He was proud of his sons’ accomplishments, both academically and in sports. He was a fixture cheering on his boys and their teammates at their many soccer, football, basketball and baseball games over the years. Most of all, Scott cherished time spent with his friends and family. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

Per the family’s request, we ask that you please share stories of a favorite memory you have of Scott on notecards to be gathered at the service or mailed to the family at a later date.

Memorial donations in his honor are suggested to Lincoln Land Hospice or Sarah Bush Lincoln Cancer Center.