Lehman, Verl O. (1917-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Oct 4 p. 9

Birth date: 1917 Dec 22

text of obituary:

VERL O. LEHMAN

Verl O. Lehman, 92, died Sept. 9, 2010, at Greencroft Healthcare in Goshen, Ind. He was born Dec. 22, 1917, to Clarence and Bertha (Christophel) Lehman on their farm in Elkhart County. He graduated from Wakarusa High School and attended Goshen College.

On Sept. 1, 1940, he married Vesta Metzler. She preceded him in death in 2005.

The mission of the church became the focus of his life. In 1951 he moved with his family to La Porte County, where he was involved in ministry at the former Fish Lake Mennonite Church, a church plant of Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, for 30 years. Throughout these years he was employed as a machinist.

In 1980 he and his wife retired in the Goshen area, where they became charter members of Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship. He served there in a variety of roles and was remembered as the person who noticed and welcomed visitors and newcomers. Other volunteer activities included 16 years at the World Missionary Press and eight years with the volunteer chaplaincy program at Goshen General Hospital.

Survivors include three daughters, Jean Moyer and her husband, Samuel, and Ruth Ann Yoder and her husband, Jared B., all of Goshen, and Carol Lehman and her husband, John Kampen, of Cincinnati; two sons, Larry Lee Lehman of Salem and David E. Lehman and his wife, Dianne, of Goshen; two sisters, Eva Myers of Goshen and Wilma Lehman of Auburn; 12 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vesta, and brother-in-law Warren Myers.

Memorial services were held at Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship of Goshen. Burial was in Yellow Creek Cemetery in Goshen.