Obituary index

Raymond Leesman

[October 27, 2009]  Raymond F. Leesman, 89, of Lincoln, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at 5:41 p.m. at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at St. John United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Richard Reinwald officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be in New Union Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by Lincoln American Legion Post 263.

Arrangements are by Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.

Mr. Leesman was a purchasing agent at PPG Industries in Lincoln for 30 years. He retired in 1982.

He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

He was born Jan. 7, 1920, in Lincoln to Raymond F. Sr. and Frieda Bohn Leesman. He married Gertrude Wolf on Nov. 26, 1944, in Mount Pulaski.

He is survived by his wife, of Lincoln; three daughters, Marianne (and Mark) Herriott of Champaign, Joan (and Dan) Decker of Dubuque, Iowa, and Gail (and Jim) McShane of Lincoln; one brother, Walter (and Lorene) Leesman of Phoenix, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

One son, Roger, preceded him in death at age 5.

Mr. Leesman was a lifelong member of St. John United Church of Christ, where he was a Brotherhood member and had served as communion coordinator, greeter, on the stewardship committee, and as a former church council member and president.

He was a member of AMVETS, Elks Lodge and American Legion Post 263, serving in the color guard. He was a Kiwanis member and was named "Kiwanian of the Year" for 1990-1991.

He was a member of AARP, had taught the defensive driving class to senior citizens, served on the boards for senior citizens and the Logan County Housing Authority, and was a former board member and volunteer for St. Clara's Manor, serving from 1990 to 1994. He was also a volunteer for The Oasis, transported cancer patients and served Meals on Wheels for 20 years.

He was honored with the PPG Community Service Award in 1972 for his work with Junior Achievement and United Way.

Memorials may be made to St. John United Church of Christ or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Click here to send a note of condolence to the Leesman family.