Norman Leo Lehman, Sr.
January 18, 1927 – October 25, 2019
Norman was born in Indiana and moved to Tennessee at a young age. He worked the family farm and had jobs picking tomatoes and cotton. He also worked in a pool hall at the age of 12. He was drafted by the Army Air Force at the age of 17. He served in Okinawa during WWII, the Korean War, and at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, where he suffered a severe leg injury while his cargo plane was under mortar attack. He was awarded the Purple Heart but refused it. Norman had many friends who died in Vietnam.
After medical discharge and his return home from nearly a year stay at a hospital, Norman got a job at the Post Office as a mail carrier. His route was at Offutt Air Force Base.
Norm loved to fish, hunt, working in his garden, and at his son, Ken’s farm. He couldn’t do these things in his final years due to his wheelchair confinement.
He loved animals and had a variety of pets ranging from dogs, cats, goats and horses. He even had a pet squirrel.
Norman had a great personality and loved talking to people as much as they loved talking to him. Everyone at the McDonalds and Walmart knew his name. He will be sorely missed! Rest in peace Norman. May God bless you.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose (Manzo) Lehman; infant daughter, Mary Rita; son-in-law, Tim Mach; parents, Alonzo and Grace (Swaggerty) Lehman; brother, Kenneth Lehman, USMC who died in action at Iwo Jima; four half-brothers; four half-sisters; dear cousin, Delma Zoetis; sister-in-law, Mary (Manzo) Cisneros; sisters and brothers-in-law, Angeline (Manzo) and George Spensieri, Katherine (Manzo) and John Watson; brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph and Lucille (Ellis) Manzo, Anthony and Val (Sorenson) Manzo, Frank and Anna (Green) Manzo; brothers-in-law, John Manzo, Louie Manzo; brother-in-law and special friend, Alfred Manzo and Lore Centretto; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is survived by his daughters, Kathy Mach and Karen Lehman; son, Kenneth J. Lehman; son and daughter-in-law, Norman L. and Trang (Ho) Lehman, Jr.; sister, Margaret (Lehman) Mathis; many nieces and nephews; beloved dog, Bella.
The family will receive friends on Monday, October 28th from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm. SERVICES: Tuesday, October 29th at 10:30am, West Center Chapel. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery with military honors by Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard. Memorials will be directed by the family.
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