Rev. Orville O. Lehman, 81, Lincoln, died Tuesday (4-8-08). Born in a farmhouse in rural Ithaca, NE (8-19-1926) to William John and Ruth Christine (Otto) Lehman.
Baptized, confirmed and ordained at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Ithaca, NE. Attended and graduated from rural District 102, Ithaca, NE; Wahoo High School, Wahoo, NE; Luther College, Wahoo, NE; Wartburg Theological Seminary.
Served as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Cook, NE and American Lutheran Church, Lincoln. Chaplain in 134th Infantry Regiment, Nebraska Army National Guard. Served in several leadership positions, mostly in the Central District of the former American Lutheran Church: President and Chairman of the Board of the Martin Luther Home Society, Sterling and Beatrice, NE; Chairman of the Parish Education Committee, Central District, ALC; Vice-Chair of Nebraska Lutheran Social Services, Lincoln and Omaha,.NE; Secretary of the Lutheran Student Foundation, UNL, Lincoln, NE
In most recent years, Orville was also an active member of the Lincoln Chapter of the Word Alone Network, and a member of the Steering Committee of the Nebraska Chapter, as well as the editor of the Nebraska Chapter’s website: http://www.wordalonenebraska.org
Survived by his wife of 56 years, Violet; daughters, sons-in-law: Jane and Paul Meyer, Loveland, CO; Catherine and Thomas Zahalka, Richmond, VA; Sharon and Gary Gibson, Racine, WI; Patricia and David Anderson, Parker, CO; grandchildren, spouses: Andrew and Becky Meyer, Kansas City, MO; Julie and Glenn Conley, Xenia, OH; Philip Meyer, Maryville, MO; Kelly Zahalka, Annapolis, MD; Michael Gibson, Racine, WI; great granddaughter: Ruth Christine Conley; sister: Helen Lehman, Crete, NE; brothers-in-law, sister-in-law: Alida and Lee Sivil; Richard Schoener and Jane Meier, all of Fond du Lac, WI; nieces, nephews, cousins. Preceded in death by parents, brother – Leonard.
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday (4-19-08) Grace Lutheran Church, Walton, NE
Burial in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Ithaca, NE.
Memorials in lieu of flowers to Tabitha Foundation for Meals On Wheels Endowment Fund, 4720 Randolph (10) or Grace Lutheran Church Building Fund, Walton, NE 68461.
Life celebration gathering at Roper and Sons Reception Facility with family greeting friends Friday (4-18-08) from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.