Lehnhard, Louis A. (1875-1979)

LEHNHARD, BLANKENBUEHLER, YOUNG, SNYDER, GRIFFITHS

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/21/2015 at 13:38:39

Daily Freeman Journal, Monday, October 8, 1979

Lou Lehnhard, 104, dies

Rites Tuesday for county's eldest citizen

Lou A. Lehnhard, 104, Hamilton county's oldest resident and a prominent Webster City businessman for many years, died Saturday morning at Crestview Manor where he had resided for the past four years.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Foster Funeral home with the Rev. Alva Hohl officiating and with burial in Graceland cemetery.

Graveside rites will be conducted by the Acacia Masonic Lodge 176, AF and AM with flagfolding service also planned by the American Legion Post 191.

Mr. Lehnhard was the oldest Spanish-American War veteran in Iowa and the seventh oldest Spanish-American veteran in the United States.

Louis A. Lehnhard, son of Louis C. and Mary Blankenbuehler Lehnhard, was born June 17, 1875 at Marietta, Ohio. He came west with his mother when she was advised by her doctor to go to Denver for her health, and they stopped in Webster City in 1890 to visit relatives.

His mother died two months later, and the 15-year-old youth drove a bakery wagon for his uncle and also worked for a hotel driving a hotel bus. Later he worked for the F.I. Cash Tailoring Co. He entered into partnership in a clothing store with Cash's son, Fred Cash, and in 1916 he purchased his partner's interest in the store.

His business career was interrupted by the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, and in April, 1898, he left Webster City with Co. C of the Iowa National Guard. The unit was assigned to Camp Thomas, Chicamauga Park, Ga., but didn't see action as the war soon ended. The unit returned home in October, 1898.

On Dec. 27, 1899, he was united in marriage to Martha Young, and the couple resided in Webster City all their married lives.

To this union two daughters were born, Margaret (Mrs. Frank Snyder) of Traverse City, Mich. and Mrs. Mary L. Griffiths, who died in 1966.

In addition to his daughter, Mrs. Snyder, he is survived by two grandsons, Frank G. Snyder, III, and James Lehnhard Snyder, both of Saginaw, Mich.; and four great-grandchildren, Frank G. Snyder, IV, David Snyder, Carolyn Snyder and Mary Snyder, all of Saginaw.

He was preceded in death by his wife, March 15, 1979; by his daughter, Mary, and his parents.

After more than half a century in the clothing business he sold his interest in the Lehnhard Clothing store to the late Frank Clerff and Verne Lubbers. Lubbers took over the sole ownership of the store in 1946, changing the name to Lubbers Clothing.

At 104, Mr. Lehnhard was the oldest member of St. Paul's Universalist church and was the second oldest Mason in the U.S. in the number of years in the Masonry. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Birthday club and an honorary member of the VFW.