Marion L. Lehman, 95, passed away peacefully Thursday, August 20, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family. Private family services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at the United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, by Pastor Terra Amundson. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services of Mount Vernon. Friends and extended family are invited to watch the service via Facebook live stream. Please search for and request to join the Remembering Marion Lehman private Facebook group for more information.
Marion Radke was born November 26, 1924 to Martin and Mabel (Watson) Radke in Hinsdale, Illinois. She graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High School, Riverside, IL in 1942. Her first job was with the Old Age Assistance program, which became Social Security. She was then hired by Bear, Stearns and Company, a brokerage house on LaSalle Street, the Wall Street of Chicago. She was secretary to the manager of the Bond Department. She was next hired by WWZR FM Radio where her job was to organize all pre-recorded programming and announcements of Pop, Concert and Classical music for their 24 hour all-music station, and was in training as a radio station manager. It was WWII and due to the vulnerability of radio stations, security was tight. She loved the job, but a year later was lured back to Bear, Stearns and Company where she worked until she was married.
Marion met the love of her life, a handsome Marine named Fred Lehman, at the USO in downtown Chicago. It was love at first sight. After the war they were married in Chicago at the Central Church in Orchestra Hall on Michigan Avenue across the street from the Art Institute.
Fred and Marion have lived in Iowa their entire married life. They first moved to Bloomfield where Fred sold insurance and Marion was a paralegal. A year later they moved to West Liberty, where Fred grew up, to farm. During those early years Marion supplemented their income by teaching piano lessons. In 1965, because of the territory Fred needed to cover in his work with Walnut Grove Feeds, they moved to Mount Vernon.
In 1966 Marion was hired to help Edith Hetland establish a middle school library, then an elementary library in Mount Vernon. It was a job she loved until she retired in l988. They called her 'Marion, the Librarian' just like the character in the movie 'The Music Man'.
She was an enthusiastic member of the Methodist Choir for forty years. Fred and Marion raised a music loving family. She is survived by Fred, her husband of 73 years, daughters'Connie Clancey (Marty) of Cedar Rapids, Jean Lehman of Mount Vernon, Lori Reihle of Cedar Rapids, and Ann Currie (Jay) of Mount Vernon. They have six beloved grandchildren Jennifer Clancey, Andrew Clancey (Jasmine Eisner), Abbie (Reihle) Hames (Curtis), Kristen (Reihle) Kimball (Derek), Kit Currie, and Clint Currie (Jason Bladow). They have 5 adorable great-grandchildren.
During their married life Fred and Marion traveled widely across the US and abroad as a couple, sometimes with family. They vacationed for over fifty years with family and friends in the Lake of the Ozarks. Marion water skied until the year she was seventy.
She was a member of Lisbon and Mount Vernon Woman's Club, Friendship Club, United Methodist Women, a founding member of T.T.T. Society Chapter EW and the American Legion Auxiliary Post 480.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, American Legion Auxiliary Post 480 or T.T.T. Chapter EW.
Marion never met a stranger. She was very genuine in the love (and hugs) that she shared freely. She will be greatly missed by all.
OH MY GOODNESS , YOUR MOM WAS THE FRIENDLIEST “LIBRARY LADY” OUR OLDEST SON GARY LOVED TO READ AND TALK, AND YOUR MOM ALWAYS ENCOURAGED HIM TO DO BOTH. SHE WAS ALWAYS SO HAPPY AND HAD A SMILE WHENEVER WE WOULD SEE HER, AT GWENS, OR THE GROCERY STORE ECT. SHE WAS A SPECIAL LADY. MARSHA HEIMS
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD:
-Drive-by Memorial for Marion Lehman (in lieu of visitation)
-Sunday, August 23 -Meet at the Mount Vernon High School Parking Lot at 3:30pm. Police will lead the caravan.
– Please stop at the end of our driveway only long enough to call out a greeting, blow a kiss pick up a remembrance and/or drop off a card.
-It is totally unnecessary, but if you are so moved, feel free to decorate your car, fly flags or balloons – we are celebrating the joyful spirit of our mom, but also letting Dad, and the whole family, know how much she, and they are loved.
(If you’d be interested in being at the parking lot and helping organize cars and answer questions please let Ann Lehman Currie know.)
Hope to see you. Thanks so much!!!❤️❤️
Marion and Fred supported the community in so ways with their involvement and presence, We will miss Marion’s smile and warm greetings,
Marion was a person who was the quintessential heart and soul of Mount Vernon, as mother to four wonderful daughters who I know as friend, and as a fellow member of the United Methodist Church. She was always of good cheer and warm welcome. The stories of her life are abundant and helped define our community. Above all, she was a decent, loving person, spouse, parent, grandparent and neighbor.
With Love and Sorrow
I don’t have a memory. I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing this beautiful woman. I wanted to thank you for sharing the story of their life. It is a beautiful story and I enjoyed reading it. I love Stewart Baxter. They are awesome at a terrible point in life. Thanks again, Char Fults 💔
In honor of our family heritage and Aunt Maron’s history, an alive, growing memorial is so appropriate. We love you, Aunt Marion Radke Lehman.
Marion’s kindness, warmth and humor has touched so many. She will be dearly missed but not forgotten. Our hearts go out to Fred and the Lehman family.
Marion was always so nice to me, she never forgot a face or a name. One of the sweetest ladies! She will be missed.
We got to know Marion and Fred thru their attendance at school events that our kids were in. Such a wonderful and fun family. Marion was so positive and pleasant. Always made me smile. We always enjoyed bumping into them around town at events. We know she will be missed, but she has left behind some wonderful memories! Our sympathy to all the Lehman family.
I feel so lucky to have known Marion through my life-long friend, Connie (one of the Lehman girls!). Marion was so much fun to be around and a great companion to Fred. I smile thinking of all the laughs I’ve enjoyed with this family. She will be so missed by everyone whose path she crossed.
Words can’t express how much I appreciated Marion. Always a smile, always had a hug ready for you. She was at every event in Mount Vernon and was so honored when her and Fred attended our parties! They helped support us through our house fire. Pillars in our community and our Church. These photos are from my front porch project this spring when we were quarantined due to COVID19–even with a mask on you can tell Marion was sporting her famous smile! God Bless to Fred and the entire Lehman family.
Sorry to hear of your loss. She was a wonderful person and a wonderful neighbor Paul Davisson
Lori, Abbie and family…my condolences to you. Your mother/grandmother led a marvelous and full life. Sincerely, Jill Jamieson
Dear Lehman family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Gosh it just won’t be the same around town not seeing Marion and Fred at events. They were every where, what dear people, always a smile, hug and a story from Fred. They were like salt and pepper, never one without the other. What a couple they were and so loved and admired by EVERYONE! This will be a great loss to the community. Marion always was smiling, not to many times did you ever see her not smiling. I will always hear her voice and see her smile. Hold that smile and her love in your hearts, always. With sympathy, love and hugs, Ed and Annamae
If there was a problem to be solved in the community, you could count on Marion being there, working on a solution. Students loved her, and knew she always would help. As one who worked with her on many projects, I know how much she gave to the community and how dearly she will be missed. Hugs to Fred and family.