Lehman, Robert C. (1928-2018)

LEHMAN, HILDRETH

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/22/2018 at 10:01:10

Robert C. (Bob) Lehman, 89, of Dubuque died Thursday, April 26, 2018 at Mercy Medical Center. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Monday at the Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 Kennedy Road. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 255 W. 10th Street, where visitation will also be held Tuesday from 10 to 10:45 am. Military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League in the church courtyard following the funeral service.
Bob was born December 18, 1928 in Des Moines, son of Ralph and Florence (Hildreth) Lehman. He served in the US Army during the Korean War.
On June 21, 1955, Bob married Joann Van Zomeren at Eden Reformed Church, Herman, Minnesota.
Following his graduation from Colorado State University in 1957 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Bob began his career with John Deere Waterloo Works. In 1968, he transferred to Dubuque and continued working there until his retirement in 1984; with a year long transfer to Europe in 1982.
After his retirement, Bob and Joann traveled throughout the world. They wintered in Green Valley, Arizona where Bob volunteered with the GVR computer club.
Bob was always very mechanical and began building his tool collection at the age of six. While he worked at John Deere, and after his retirement, he owned a building where he converted many vans. He built his largest project, a motor home that was later donated to Camp Courageous. He could take any vision and turn it into a reality.
Bob was a loving and caring family man. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
He is survived by his wife, Joann Lehman of Dubuque; three children, Mary (Merlin) Santjer of Dubuque, Linda (Regis Rusnock) Lehman MD of Ames, and Sharon (Tom Burt) Jones of Cedar Rapids; eight grandchildren, Megan (Matt) Geerts of Omaha, Nebraska, Matthew Santjer of Iowa City, Erin Lehman Gamble of Ames, Jesse Lehman Gamble of Iowa City, Paul (Holly) King of Valdosta, Georgia, Bethany (Michael) Lancaster of Cedar Rapids, Rachel King VanderGaast of Cedar Rapids and Rebekah (Heath) Tuma of Fordham, Norfolk, UK; and nine great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, David Lehman.
Memorials may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ, Camp Courageous or Bethany Home.
The family would like to thank the staff at Bethany Home, and the doctors, nurses and staff at Medical Associates and Mercy Medical Center for their excellent care.