Pastor Andrea Doeden
June 3, 1967-September 27, 2023
Andrea Lynn Doeden was born in Tokyo, Japan on June 3, 1967. She was the second of three children born to Gaye and Norman Doeden. Andrea was known to be a spirited and kindhearted girl with a big smile, interested in all creatures great and small.
The family moved to Denver, Colorado in 1971 and returned to Japan in 1973. They moved to Richfield, Minnesota in 1975 where Andrea attended elementary, middle, and high school. Andrea was an exceptional and involved student. She was a member of the high school swimming team and played the violin in orchestra. She was also an active member of the youth group and choir of Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina, Minnesota.
Andrea majored in biology at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa; she graduated in 1989 with honors. She followed her dream to become a physician, attending medical school at University of Minnesota, Duluth campus where she met her first husband. They were married in 1991 and moved to Oklahoma where Andrea trained in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Oklahoma, College of Medicine. Andrea divorced in 1995.
She married Paul Tennery, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1999. Not only was Andrea blessed over the years by the love of her husband, Paul, she also became a part of his family which included his children: Jacob, Elizabeth, Tristan, Ian, Philip, Seth, Gabrielle, Bradly, and Jillian.
While in Oklahoma, Andrea practiced at Renaissance Women’s Group in Edmond, Oklahoma and Lakeside Doctors Gynecology and Obstetrics in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 2010, Andrea and Paul moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where Andrea met women’s gynecology and surgical needs at Mt. San Rafael Hospital and Clinics.
Throughout her life Andrea was active in the Lutheran church and participated in global ministry, traveling to Bangladesh and Tanzania to donate her time and medical skills. While continuing to work as physician, Andrea enrolled in seminary, allowing her to care for individuals not only physically but spiritually as well. On December 14, 2013, Andrea was ordained by the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA Lutheran Church and installed as Pastor of Zion’s Lutheran Church in Trinidad, Colorado.
Along with her continued medical practice, Andrea loved her work as Pastor. Her joy was multiplied by the congregation and their willingness to minister alongside her, to the community both local and at large.
In August of 2020 Andrea underwent surgery for newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer. She began chemotherapy shortly thereafter. She kept friends and family updated on her Caring Bridge page, calling those who prayed for her, her Community of Saints. In the midst of treatments and uncertainty, Andrea stunned everyone with her daily capacity to find joy and be thankful for life.
She had always wanted to walk the Santiago de Camino (a pilgrimage stretching through Spain and France), and called her cancer journey her “Cancer Camino.” Paul and Andrea were able to walk on the actual Santiago de Camino for 10 days in June of 2022, making new friends along the way.
Her mission to minister to others continued throughout her journey with cancer. Her capacity to find joy, be open with her struggles, and acknowledge dependence on God’s presence inspired many.
Friends and family will remember Andrea’s fondness for her horses and dogs, for long hikes up her ranch’s ravine to marvel at the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, for gardening, for her cooking and hospitality, for road trips and adventures with Paul, and for her love of community. Andrea made lasting and cherished friendships wherever she went.
Andrea passed out of our loving arms and into the arms of her Maker on the morning of September 27, 2023. Andrea is survived by her husband, Paul Tennery, and children: Jacob and his wife Katie with granddaughters Lana and Nell, Elizabeth with grandson Sean, Tristan and partner Kiiko, Ian and wife MacKenzie with granddaughter Margo, Philip, Seth and partner Zach, Gabrielle, Bradly, and Jillian. She is also survived by her parents Norman and Gaye Doeden; her brother Craig, his wife Kyuri, and children Noah, Kenna, and by Andrew Doeden; her sister Kerri, her husband Eric, and children Ethan, Sophie and Chloe Goers.
Andrea’s Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 on November 3, 2023, at Zion’s Lutheran Church, 510 Pine Street, Trinidad, CO 81082.
The service also will be broadcast via Zoom -- Join Zoom Meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82602380049?pwd=rmcsnWBEJZvz8amZSYsLzfYY7FCOHf.1
Meeting ID: 826 0238 0049
Passcode: 659801
The link to the bulletin to follow the Zoom service is included in the downloads at the bottom of this page.
Additional Information
In Lieu of Flowers: Memorials in honor of Andrea can be directed to Lutheran World Relief at: https://lwr.org/ or Sarah Cannon Research Institute at: https://sarahcannon.com/about/sarah-cannon-fund.dot.
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