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 kind hearted 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 14th, 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 ten 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.
the second of three children born to Gaye and Norman Doeden. Andrea was
known to be a spirited and kind hearted 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 14th, 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 ten 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 27th, 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 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 3rd, 2023 at
Zion’s Lutheran Church, 510 Pine Street, Trinidad, CO 81082
Overflow for the Celebration of Life Service if Zion is full will be at the Trinidad Community Church, 216 Broom Street, Trinidad, Colorado.
There will be a reception following the service at Space to Create, 218 East Main Street, Trinidad, Colorado, 81802
There will be a reception following the service at Space to Create, 218 East Main Street, Trinidad, Colorado, 81802
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
