Yolanda Irene Lehner

Yolanda Lehner passed away on November 5, 2025 at the age of 83. Yolanda was born in the Bronx, to a rowdy, loving, Italian family. Her father, Francis, an Irish American, was fighting in the Pacific for the Allies when Yolanda was born and was tragically killed in the line of duty before he was able to meet her. Yolanda's family moved to Phoenix after the war, where she was raised by her doting mom, also named Yolanda, Uncles Pasquale (Patty) and Leonard, Aunts Mary and Sylvia, and her Italian grandmother, Anna Maria. The first member of her family to attend college, Yolanda graduated from Stanford University on a full scholarship. She then moved back to Arizona, achieving a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she met Charlie, her future husband and our dad, in a marine algae class. Yolanda always loved the ocean, went on a research voyage with Stanford's Te Vega vessel, studied at the Hopkins Marine Station, and enjoyed frequent trips to Puerto Peñasco in Mexico. As a chemist, Yolanda worked many years at the USDA Honeybee Research Laboratory, searching for effective pesticides that wouldn't harm bees. Conclusion: GO ORGANIC! All pesticides harm bees and other pollinators. Because Yolanda was union organizing at the USDA and management wanted to split up these "troublemakers", including Yolanda, they transferred her to Madison in 1979, so the family relocated. Yolanda loved the bees and her research, but eventually decided to go to law school in her 40's because she sought a profession that would allow her to interact with and help people more directly. She had her own law office, the Lehner Law Office, helping clients with mental commitments, criminal charges, and acted as a guardian ad litem. She was a student supervisor at the UW Law School Legal Defense Program. She volunteered with the Omega School Board. She was brilliant, fearless, incredibly well-read and informed, hilarious, generous with her time, a wonderful mentor to many, a benign rabble rouser with little filter at times, but she also had a kind, caring heart. She was a passionate advocate for her family, clients, and everything she cared about, including the environment. She loved her family, friends, and entertaining. Since the 1970's, she hated artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives because, as a chemist, she understood how dangerous they were. She was an incredible cook, and with Charlie, they created exotic and delicious meals that rivaled any fancy restaurant. Afterwards came the colorful negotiations as to who would clean up the inevitable catastrophe in the kitchen! Yolanda was an avid reader and always had a book on hand - sometimes serious literature, but more often murder mysteries and even romance novels - just like her mom. When her kids were young, Yolanda would tell captivating, original stories she made up on-the-spot of a friendly giant and his adventures with his friends. She was a loving mother and grandmother, always wanting the best for her kids and grandkids, always with advice, care, and concern. She will be missed greatly by those who knew and loved her. Yolanda is survived by her husband of 56 years, Charlie, her children Emma, Tom (Beth), and Sally (David); grandkids Sasha, Pacey, Ben, Marianna, Lauren, Leo, and Will; beloved adopted daughter Citlalli (daughters Cristina and Ana), sister-in-law Ann Marra (Vince), niece Shelby, and nephew Anthony. In her honor, please consider a donation to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) or Planned Parenthood. The family plans to have a small, private remembrance service.