Gaylord - Loren D. Lehmann, 81, passed away Thursday, August 27, 2020 at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, KS.
Loren was born November 3, 1938 in Gaylord, KS, the son of Adolph Frank and Eva Pearl (Auldridge) Lehmann. Loren attended Gaylord rural schools and graduated high school in 1956, admitting that he did not apply himself near enough. He worked in carpentry and rough construction from 1956 to 1961, the highlight of this time being working on Wilson Dam.
Loren enlisted in the United States Army on October 17, 1961, inducted at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, serving at Ft. Chaffee, AR, Ft. Belvoir, VA, and Ft. Lee, VA. He was honorably discharged on October 16, 1963. Loren went back to working construction after he was discharged.
Loren married Jane Nicholas at Zenda, KS on June 5, 1965. He worked for his father-in-law for eleven years. Loren and Jane were blessed with two children, Billy in 1966 and Teresa in 1970. In 1976, the family moved to Gaylord, KS to be closer to Loren's parents. Loren worked for Jim Schoen and GMI, Gaylord Manufacturing Inc. The family was blessed with another son, Greg in 1981. Loren later divorced.
Loren married Darlene Deneke on April 21, 1990 in Beloit, KS. They lived in Gaylord where Loren eventually took a job as the city man for 25 years. He retired from work at the age of 75 in 2013.
Loren always had a love of animals and raised pigs, sheep and goats for consumption over the years. He earned the name "The Miracle Man" from sale barns around the area because he would buy the sickly or physically injured animals and nurse them back to health for resale.
Loren's beloved wife Darlene passed in 2018 and he continued caring for his animals. By the beginning of 2020, he finally slowed down, getting out of the animal business and becoming a man of leisure.
He was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, parents, sister Lois Hayes and an infant brother and favorite uncle, Bill Lehmann, step-daughter Joyce Standley and a step-grandson, Brian.
Loren is survived by his children, Billy Lehmann of Gaylord, Teresa (Ron) Corwin of Hutchinson, Greg (Katie) Lehmann of Concordia, four grandchildren, Josh, Sha, Mauryn and Wil, three step-great grandchildren, Billie, Kelly and Shandi, four step-children, Mike (Betty) Deneke of Amarillo, TX, Steve Deneke, Beloit, Sharon (Larry) Winkel of Topeka and Rodney (Joyce) Standley of Kansas City, MO, seven step-grandchildren and sixteen step-great-grandchildren.
Loren loved his family, first and foremost. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, honesty and love. He was a simple man, humble and funny. He will be missed by many.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 4, 2020 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Jason Kohler officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will take place in the Gaylord Cemetery, Gaylord, KS. Memorials may be given to the Gaylord Fire Department and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.