William Frederick Lehmann

William Frederick Lehmann, Jr. ""Bill"" Throughout our lives and most certainly with Dad's illness and passing our hearts have been warmed by his unique ability to make friends wherever he went. Each relationship was sincere and special in its own way and most often accompanied by a nickname that defined it. His story began on December 16, 1931 in Trenton, New Jersey. The son of William and Sadie Lehmann his birth was shortly followed by a beloved brother and friend Chauncey. Billy and Chauncey were best friends and spent their childhood fishing, swimming, playing baseball, earning medals in Boy Scouts and getting into ""harmless"" mischief with their friends. Billy loved to read and learn. He was the sports editor for his high school newspaper, student council president, lettered in varsity baseball, football, basketball, and track, and was in the senior class play. He loved his country. As class valedictorian, he ended his graduation speech with the following paragraph: ""A citizen of the United States must combine the principles of his church, a wholesome home life, and a liberal education to carry out his share of the responsibility [serving his country]. This is necessary, because he must be able to think intelligently and without prejudice and that can only be done by a person who has a well rounded character, one such as only the church, home, and school combined to make."" Bill attended Rutgers University and in 1954 earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. While at Rutgers he was president of his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, and joined the ROTC. Though in school, he wanted to serve his country and after graduation he enlisted in the US Army. Officer training school took Bill to Aberdeen Proving Ground where he specialized in ordnance. His was posted as an instructor in the ordnance guided missile school at the Red Stone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. It was at the Red Stone Arsenal where Bill earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant and met local beauty Dorothy ""Dottie"" McLeod Timmons. Bill and Dottie married in June 1956. The union was blessed in 1957 with the birth of their first child Jan and in 1958 with a son, Will. Upon completion of his four year commitment to the US Army, Bill accepted an aeronautical engineering position with Martin Marietta and the little family moved to Orlando, Florida. While with Martin Marietta, Bill worked on the Sky Lab project and sat in mission control. While in Florida, Bill grew killer tomatoes, bought a fishing boat, coached little league, and was a Boy Scout Troop Leader. The family grew with the birth of Greg in 1963 and Heidi in 1968. Martin Marietta expanded to Colorado and the family moved to Denver in 1970. In 1977 Bill accepted a position as a Statistical Analyst with Storage Technology Corporation (STC.) He worked for STC until his retirement in 1994. Bill formed close friendships with co-workers at STC and, until 2006 when his health made the trips difficult, enjoyed yearly fishing trips with them to Lake Powell. Since the move to Colorado, the Lehmann family grew. Jan married Greg Day, Will Married Melinda Smith, Greg married JoLynne Wambolt, and Heidi married Steve Zarnow. - Bill earned a recognition that will forever inspire a generation of individuals – ""Grandpa Bill."" Grandpa Bill is survived not only by four children who consider him their hero but also by thirteen grandchildren that made his life story complete and brought him the greatest pleasures he has ever known: Russ, Kelly, Matt, Jay, Danny, Cole, Jeff, Chelsea, Sarah, Lindsey, Ryan, Ashley, and Addison, Grandpa Bill Loved You All More Than You Will Ever Know. Bill Lehmann was a man of unequalled integrity and personal strength. On August 4, 2006 he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He didn't ask ""why me?"" – he said ""I can beat this."" His left lung was removed and he tolerated a partial course of chemotherapy. In August 2007 he was told the cancer had spread to his brain and he had 1-8 months to live. During the months that followed he endured pain, confusion, radiation, invasive procedures, chronic heart failure and pneumonia but he never complained – not once. He never gave up and he never felt sorry for himself. He continued to fight courageously with dignity and quiet strength. On May 2, 2008 God took Dad's burden and carried him peacefully to heaven. But not before he touched the lives of everyone he knew. He will live on in all of us and be lovingly remembered as Bill: Son; Brother; Billy; Husband; Father; Dad; Patriot; Teacher; Coach; Grandpa Bill; GP Bill; HERO William F. ""Bill"" Lehmann, Jr., 76, of Littleton passed away on Friday, May 2, 2008. Service will be held on Friday, May 9 at 10AM at Horan & McConaty Family Funeral Home, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Lakewood 80227. Burial at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Memorial Donatins may be made to: *Army Emergency Relief Fund www.aerhq.org *American Cancer Society www.cancer.org