LeRoy Lehmkuhl 1935-2025
LeRoy Cyril “Whitey” Lehmkuhl passed away peacefully at home on May 5, 2025, with family at his side.
He was born March 18, 1935, in Fidelity, the first child of Vincent George and Margaret Mary Honeyman Lehmkuhl. He graduated from Sabetha High School in 1953.
LeRoy married Delores Ione Middendorf on May 4, 1957, at Fidelity. To this union were born two daughters, Debra Jean and Brenda Kaye, and two sons, Randy Joseph and Fredrick James.
LeRoy was a lifetime iron worker and belonged to Iron Workers Local 10 in Kansas City, Mo.
One of his first loves, aside from Delores, was baseball. LeRoy was quite the pitcher when he played Legion Baseball at Sabetha. As his young family grew, he was involved in coaching his sons all the way from Pee Wees up through Legion Baseball. He also actively pursued fast pitch softball and spent many a summer’s night playing slow pitch softball with his extended family along Highway 36.
In his retirement, LeRoy spent his best days out in the timber, cutting down trees with his trusty chainsaw. He took much pride in the way he fell a log and could tell you exactly how it would lay. He was a lifetime outdoorsman. In his younger days, he enjoyed following hounds on a cold brisk night as they were coon hunting. He has always enjoyed fishing with his family and was fortunate to share that love with three generations. He was quite a golfer, although he didn’t pick up the sport until he was 65.
LeRoy was a member of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church. He was an honorary member of Knight’s of Columbus Council 4219 and was a member of the Optimist Club.
LeRoy is survived by his wife, Delores of the home; two daughters, Debra of Manhattan and Brenda Wilson (Gary) of Kansas City, Mo.; two sons, Randy Lehmkuhl (Teresa) of Gaylord and Fred Lehmkuhl (Lisa) of Holton; and his grandchildren, Meggin Wease (Donnie), Austin Freed (Joe), Jodi Skyler (Aaron), Katie Morris (Jared), Ryan Lehmkuhl (Sara), Kelsey Wilson (Blake), Danielle Hopkins (Harry), Donovan Meek, Nicholas Lehmkuhl (Lexi) and Corey Lehmkuhl. He was blessed and very proud of his eight great-grandsons and three great-granddaughters. Surviving siblings are Lois Buescher, Donna Young, Marge Bradbury (Rod), Kathy Chandler (Pete), Joe Lehmkuhl (Margie), Terry Lehmkuhl (Kristi) and Karen Lehmkuhl.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Darlene Stahl; two brothers, Larry and Robert Lehmkuhl; and two brothers-in-law, Larry Stahl and Eddie Young.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 12 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Holton. The rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 11 with the visitation to follow until 6 p.m. at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Knights of Columbus Council 4219 or to the Beck Bookman Library in Holton, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
