Funeral services for Merl A. Lehenbauer will be Saturday, January, 23, 2016, at 10 a.m. at the Anderson-Burris Funeral Home, Enid, Oklahoma. Burial will immediately follow at the Ames Cemetery. Reverend Ron Burris from Ross Hospice will officiate. Visitation will be Friday evening, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Anderson-Burris. Merl passed away peacefully on January 19 at Golden Oaks Village nursing center.
Merl was born September 17, 1920, to August and Emma Hayes (Rasar) Lehenbauer. He attended Ames Public Schools, played basketball and helped on the family farm. After high school graduation, Merl was employed at a local business and continued to help on the family farm. After the onset of World War II, Merl enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Forces. He served from 1943 to 1946 as a pilot assigned to the 5th Combat Cargo Squadron in the southern Pacific theater.
After the war, Merl returned to Ames to farm. On February 22, 1948, Merl married the love of his life, Mary Helen Wheeler, where they began their lives together on the family farm just south of Ames. They had a small dairy along with raising wheat and beef cattle. Here they also raised their three children. He was a longtime member of the Ames American Legion.
Merl and Mary retired from farming in 1988 and moved to Enid. In 2000, they continued their retirement years at the Golden Oaks Village retirement community. Merl treasured his time with family and friends, especially his four grandchildren, and he never met a dog he didn’t like.
Merl is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, Mary Helen; daughter Virginia Lehenbauer-Ingle, Enid; Dr. Terry and Cyglenda Lehenbauer, Exeter, California; and Jerry and Ranae Lehenbauer, Kansas City, Missouri; four grandchildren, Dr. David and Lauren Lehenbauer, Baltimore, Maryland; Emilee Lehenbauer, Arlington, Virginia; Dr. Kyle Lehenbauer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Katy Lehenbauer, Aurora, Colorado; and one great-grandson, Elijah James Lehenbauer, Baltimore. He was preceded in death by his parents, five half-brothers and three half-sisters.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Ames Christian Church, Ross Hospice of Enid, or the Ames Volunteer Fire Department.
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