Lehman, Japhet F. (Jeff) (1860-1932)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1932 Nov 22 p. 1

Birth date: 1860 Jun 8

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1932 Nov 16 p. 1

J. F. Lehman of Berne, Indiana, Dies of Apoplexy.

Berne, Indiana, Nov. 14. — J. F. Lehman, president of the First Bank of Berne and Berne's leading and beloved citizen, died suddenly Sunday morning at 8:20 o'clock with heart attack. Death was caused by angina pectoris. On Friday morning Mr. Lehman consulted his physician and was found to be suffering with that ailment. His physician stated today that this evidently caused heart paralysis and it was only a matter of a second and he had passed away.

Although still active until the very moment of his death, it was apparent to those about Mr. Lehman that his health was gradually failing during the last two years. Three years ago when he attended a Mennonite conference at Hutchinson, Kansas, he was overcome by heat and obliged to come home a very sick man. Since that time his health seemed impaired.

On Sunday morning Mr. Lehman ate his usual light breakfast, attended to the furnace and was dressed and ready to go to Sunday school to teach his large class. Reviewing his lesson notes and outline while sitting in his favorite chair, he breathed his last.

A pall of gloom was cast over the entire Sunday school at the Mennonite church, which convened just 40 minutes after Mr. Lehman's death, when Supt. Edison Sprunger announced the passing of the man who had served that Sunday school as superintendent for more than 25 years. An appropriate hymn was announced, but there was very little singing. Th congregation was too breathless and shocked to sing.

On Sunday, August 14, Mr. Lehman participated on the program of the farewell service for Rev. C. H. A. van der Smissen, for years fellow workers. During his brief address of tribute to Rev. van der Smissen, which was also the last time he addressed the entire congregation, he said, "Life is a pilgrimage. The older we get the more we realize that," a statement that will ring indefinitely to those who heard it.

Mr. Lehman succeeded Rev. van der Smissen as class instructor and only a week or two before his death, he remarked to his class that he believed that his remaining time here on earth was very limitd [sic].

Mr. Lehman was born June 8, 1860, on a farm joining the northwest corner of the corporation line of Berne. In April, 1868, his parents and children moved to Missouri, and twelve years later, in April, 1880, young "Jeff" returned to Berne to stay.

Jeff Lehman was married on February 7, 1883, to Miss Elizabeth Neuenschwander and in 1885 he built their present residence on North Jefferson street, where all their children were born except the oldest.

Funeral services for J. F. Lehman who passed away at the age of 72 years, 5 months and 5 days, will be held at the Mennonite church on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 16, at 2.00 o'clock.

The services will be in charge of Rev. C. H. Suckau, pastor of the church, and the main sermon will be preached by Dr. S. K. Mossiman, president of Bluffton College, assisted by various other Mennonite pastors. — Berne Witness.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1932 Dec 7 p. 1 The Mennonite obituary: 1932 Nov 17 p. 1