William G. Lehmann, 97, of Sachse, formerly of Lake Zurich, Ill., died Nov. 4, 2012, after a brief stay at Founders Plaza Nursing Home in Wylie, following a stroke. A memorial service was held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1399 Elm Dr. in Wylie.
Bill was born April 1, 1915, in Pontiac, Ill. to Albert and Emma Lehmann. He married Geraldine Meeker on Dec. 29, 1939. They were married 67 years until Geraldine died in 2007. He was preceded in death by his older siblings, Chester, Edrie, Harold and Alberta.
Bill was a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he was a varsity letterman on the track team and earned the opportunity to race against Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympic Trials in Chicago. After college Bill served in World War II as a 1st Lieutenant in the medical corps of the U.S. Army. He was stationed primarily in the Philippines but was also in Tokyo soon after VJ Day. After the war he attended the University of Wisconsin (Madison) where he received a master’s degree in education.
Bill taught high school science for more than 40 years, beginning in Valley City, ND, and then at Ela Vernon High School, later re-named Lake Zurich High School in Illinois. He also coached track, football and basketball and later served as athletic director. In the early ’50s he started the LZHS football program and was honored at the homecoming game in 2005.
During this time he also served as an elder at St. Peter United Church of Christ and worked for the US Postal Service in Lake Zurich for 32 years before retiring at age 70.
Bill enjoyed drinking coffee, rock collecting and polishing, pheasant hunting, working in the yard and decorating it for holidays and taking his family to northern Wisconsin for vacation.
Survivors include his sons, William G. Lehmann Jr. and his wife Cheryl of Moline, IL, Randall E. Lehmann and his wife Jan of Sachse, and Terry A. Lehmann and his wife Barb of Spring; grandchildren, Derek Lehmann and his wife Kelly, Greg Lehmann and his wife Brooke, Chad Lehmann and his wife Charity, Jeff Lehmann and his wife Teri, Drew Lehmann, Jill Lehmann, Megan Lehmann, Kelly McDonald and her husband Chris and Michael Lehmann and his wife Drew; great-grandchildren, Kyle Lehmann, Rachel, Rebekah and Julia Lehmann; Tobias and Mateo Lehmann; Ethan and Avery McDonald.
The family has chosen to honor Bill and Gerry by donating a tree to the new Children’s Area at the Dallas Arboretum. The tree will bear a plaque with their names on it (William & Geraldine Lehmann). Those wishing to contribute to the memorial may send a gift to Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas TX 75218 or donate on-line at this web address: http://www.dallasarboretum.org/MembershipGiving/Tributes_and_Honor_Gifts.htm
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