Lester E. Lehman, age 93, was taken to his heavenly home on November 28. 

Lester lived most of his life in New London, Wisconsin; his earthly life ended at Laurel’s Peak, Mankato, MN. Lester was born on April 17, 1921 to Paul and Mary (Prahl) Lehman, Tigerton, WI, where he grew up on the family farm. He was united in marriage to Eva Marasch on February 16, 1944. He joined the navy in August 1941 and served on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet during World War II. The Hornet was bombed and sunk while Lester was on board. He was rescued after hours in the ocean. After the war, he began to write down his remembrances of the war. Many family and friends have read his “history.” After the war, Lester and Eva resided for a brief time in Clintonville, WI. They moved to New London WI in 1948 and lived most of their life there. Lester worked at Curtiss Company, New London, and retired from Neenah Hardwood in 1986. After retirement, Lester and Eva lived for a brief time in Waupaca WI and then returned to New London. They were married 63 years; Eva died in 2006. Lester moved to Milwaukee WI in 2007 to be closer to family and to Mankato MN in 2012. Lester had a life-long passion for history. He researched the history of the New London area for most of his adult life. He documented many volumes (40) of historical events and family genealogies which he donated to the New London Museum. He was honored by the City of New London WI in 2007 when a day was designated “Lester Lehman Day.” Lester was a “walking encyclopedia” of Wisconsin history. Even after moving from his dearly loved state of Wisconsin, he soon learned about his adopted state of Minnesota because he loved reading newspapers. The joy of his day was the delivery of one his local Wisconsin newspapers. Lester embraced technology and learned to keep up-to-date by doing online research. He also looked forward to daily emails from his brother, Forest. In addition to history, he loved sports, especially basketball and baseball with the Wisconsin Badgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers as his favorites. Lester was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Tigerton, WI. He graduated from Tigerton WI High School in 1939. He was a member for 50-plus years of Emanuel Lutheran Church, New London. He gave evidence of his faith through lifelong, daily Bible reading, devotions, and church attendance. Most recently, he was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Mankato MN. 

Survivors include: daughter, Cheryl Ziemer, Mankato MN; son, Marc Lehman (Jan Tuccinardi), Madison WI; brothers: Forest, New Prague MN; Donald (Mary) Lehman, Tigerton WI; Robert (Cheryl) Lehman, Tigerton WI; sister, Mary Jean Mathes (Sid), Waukesha WI; sisters-in-law, Bernice Lehman, Milwaukee; Leah Lehman, Tigerton, WI; grandchildren: Timothy Ziemer (Jen), St. Paul MN; Benjamin Ziemer (Becky), Rochester MN; Katherine Sexton (Brent), Mankato MN; Carl Ziemer III (Jessica), Mankato MN; Aleksandra Lehman (Anton Kozlovsky), Cedar Falls IA; Marc Lehman Jr, Madison WI; Samuel Lehman, Milwaukee WI . He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers: Wallace Lehman, Herbert Lehman, Victor Lehman; sister, Elizabeth Miller; sister-in-law, Kura Lehman; brother-in-law, Stanely Miller; son-in-law Pastor Carl Ziemer. 

The funeral service for Lester will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at Emanuel Lutheran Church, New London, with Rev. William Heiges officiating. Family and friends may call directly at church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery. The family thanks the staffs of Old Main Village, Laurel’s Peak, and Mayo Hospice, Mankato, for their care and attention. Blessed are those who die in the Lord.