Delmar Dean Lehner, age 82, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at the Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa.
His services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 25, 2014 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sheldon, Iowa with the Fr. Terry Roder and Deacon Ray Rosburg ~ officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Primghar, Iowa.
Visitation will be Friday, January 24, 2014 after 2:00 P.M. with the Family present from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon, Iowa. A Christian Wake Service will be at 7:00 P.M. and a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 7:30pm.
Delmar “Del” Dean Lehner was born at home on a farm southeast of Le Mars, IA on May 24, 1931, the son of Jay and Marguerite (Bruce) Lehner. He grew up and graduated from the Union Consolidated School in May of 1949. Del was united in marriage to Charlene Kurth on May 15, 1952 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in LeMars, IA. He started farming by Correctionville for one year in 1953 and then the next 6 years in Plymouth County across from the Union School. He moved his family to a farm near Archer, IA in April of 1960. He farmed until 1999, when he had a stroke and then moved into Sheldon, IA. Del passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at the Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa reaching the age of 82 years, 7 months and 28 days.
He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sheldon. He was a dedicated farmer and loved to work the soil. He drove a school bus for the Union School and then some for the Sheldon School. He worked as a custom house painter when his farming obligations allowed time to do so. He was an officer and director from 1969 – 1991 for the CML Cooperative Telephone. He served several terms as a trustee for the Carroll Township. He was a seed corn dealer for Asgrow O’s Gold for many years. He owned and operated Del’s Café in Archer for 2 ½ years. He was an O’Brien County Fair cop and delivered the Sunday paper. Del was a former member of the Sheldon Eagles. An avid Cubs and Hawkeye fan. He enjoyed his time working on wood projects in his woodshop, golfing, playing cards and singing. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also loved his dogs.
Delmar will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Char of 61 years and their 6 children, Jolene (Gordon) Cramer of Sheldon, IA; Doug (Kay) Lehner of Ashton, IA; Cindy (Ron) Ahlers of Spencer, IA; Vicki (Don) Mastbergen of Sanborn, IA; Kim (fiancé, Bill Roscoe) of Altoona, IA; Bill (Teri) Lehner of Spirit Lake, IA; 21 grandchildren, Dawn (Troy) Seivert, Mike (Christie) Kamphoff, Dan (Cindra) Kamphoff, Kelly Cabanas, Ben Kamphoff, Amy (Andrew) Hagemann, Tami (Mark) Fisher, Lindsay (John) Mills, Charles Rosenboom, Jason(Kelly) Breuer, Chad Rosenboom, Jamin (Tracy) Breuer, Sharon (Adam) Smith, Bob (Sarah) Ahlers, Eric Mastbergen, Jennifer Moser, Craig Mastbergen, Becky Mastbergen, Pam (Mason) Welsh, Brittany Lehner and Emily Lehner; 42 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, Keith Heimstra of Mitchell, SD and Hope Friedrichs of Anthon, IA; a brother-in-law, Maynard De Boer of Archer, IA; a sister-in-law, Lucy Lehner of Le Mars, IA and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death his parents, a son, Daniel and a daughter, Theresa in infancy and a son, Cal at age 3; a brother, John in infancy; 2 brothers, Dale and Bud; 3 sisters, Bonnie in infancy; Betty De Boer and Joy Baker.
