Lehnhardt, Gary

Not sure how many of you have heard, but the industry lost an important man last week. Below is his obituary. To leave a message for his family, please go here: http://www.eernissefuneralhome.com/ He was a good man and will be sorely missed. Thanks for all the smiles Big Boy. Gary D. Lehnhardt 'Big Boy' Mr. Gary Lehnhardt, of County Road KW in Cedar Grove, formerly of Port Washington and Belgium, passed away Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center after a courageous battle with kidney cancer. He was 62 years old. Gary was born June 16, 1947 in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of Donald and June Raforth Lehnhardt. He graduated from Port Washington High School in 1965. He worked as an electrician until 1972, and then began working for Construction Forms in Port Washington, where he was an applications engineer in research and development. Over the last 37 years, his inventions with Construction Forms earned eight patents. Mr. Lehnhardt traveled extensively for the company, getting the opportunity to visit numerous countries. On June 23, 1989, Gary was united in marriage with Kathleen Schmiedel at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Random Lake. He had previously enjoyed building racecars and drag cars, as well as restoring horse drawn carriages, buggies, buckboards, surreys and sleighs. Gary will always be remembered for his eagerness to help anybody with anything; he was jack of all trades and could "modify" anything. He genuinely enjoyed the company of his friends and family. Gary was often found tinkering in his shop, and spending time with his horses and two dogs, Buster and Max. Gary is survived by his wife, Kathleen of Cedar Grove and nine children, Kris Lehnhardt of Sheboygan, Cassie (Mark) Kurtzer of Island Creek, IL, Beth (Andy) Priebe of Anchorage, AK, Nicolle Reavis of MD, Steve (Lori) Hicks of Sheboygan, Joe (Patty) Hicks of Random Lake, Kathy Lopez (Leonel Hernandez) of Sheboygan Falls, Laura Hicks of Waupaca and Kelly (Mike) Teunissen of Oostburg. He is further survived by sixteen grandchildren, Lauren, Juan, Joe, Sara, Rebecca, Brianna, Gabriella, Joey, Shayna, McKayla, Jaide, Kirsten, Joshua, Luke, Zak and Jessica; three great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Connor and Ethan; one sister, Shelley (Rod) Kirsch of Sheboygan; one brother-in-law, Herb (Sharon) Schmiedel of Delafield; former wife, Mary Beth Nead of Cookeville, TN, other relatives and many friends. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 17, 4 P.M. at Eernisse Funeral Home, 171 N. Royal Ave. in Belgium. Rev. Wayne Tripp will officiate. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home on Saturday from 1-4 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested. On-line condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com. The Sheboygan Press October 15, 2009