Joseph Herman Lehmann Jr.

1936 - 2024

Joseph Herman Lehmann, Jr., died peacefully at his home in Conway, Arkansas, on Aug. 17, 2024, at age 87. Joe was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 13, 1936. He was known to his family by his grandfather nickname, "Boombah" – shortened to "Boom," a fitting nickname for his larger-than-life presence.

It wasn't that long ago that Joe lost his wife of 66 years, Joanne Koehler Lehmann, on Dec. 1, 2023. Every day since then, Joe said how much he longed to be with her again. While we mourn the loss of our beloved "Boom," we celebrate the joy of their reunion. We celebrate Joe's beautiful life, his deep love for his family, his strength and determination, his sense of humor and his strong faith.

Joe grew up in Louisville, where he attended St. Columba Grade School. He was a 1954 graduate of St. Xavier High School, where he participated in the marching band for four years. Joe attended Bellarmine College, followed by the University of Louisville where he received his bachelor of science in commerce in 1966. While at UofL, Joe met Joanne, the love of his life. They married in 1957, and their three daughters came along within six years.

With his outgoing personality, Joe was the consummate salesman. He worked in sales for Reynolds Aluminum, started his own company, LC Industries, and joined Virco Manufacturing in 1974. After living the first 44 years of their lives in Louisville, a promotion with Virco took Joe and Joanne to Conway in 1979. Joe was vice president of the International Sales Group, which gave him the opportunity to travel the world, often accompanied by Joanne.

Throughout his life, strength and determination were Joe's trademark. He was the hardest-working, most relentlessly determined man we ever knew. Nothing could keep Joe down. He was a fighter, surviving two separate battles with cancer. Joe was headstrong, too. Once he set his mind to something, it was definitely going to happen. Even well into his 80s, no one could talk Joe out of climbing a 12-foot ladder to clean out the gutters on the house or stop him from grabbing a chainsaw to cut down a tree. He had an incredible amount of energy and never wanted to slow down.

Joe was also a charmer and loved engaging with people; he was a colorful character who never met a stranger. When he ran errands, people called him by name wherever he went. As he walked out the door, he'd drop his signature phrase, "See you 'round like a donut," leaving people smiling and laughing in his wake.

Joe had great love and empathy for all animals, but especially for dogs. Later in life, Joe, along with Joanne, opened their home to help homeless dogs. Joe always made painstaking efforts to meet all their needs, fussing and spoiling them until they were finally adopted to a permanent home. Joe had three beloved dogs of his own: Herman, Sadie and Ginger. Because of his diligent care, they all three lived very long lives, with Herman living to nearly 18 years of age.

Joe was a devout Catholic and longtime member of St. Joseph Church in Conway, where he volunteered as a eucharistic minister for many years. He was also a Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe lived his life with strong faith in God and incredible love for his family.

Joe is survived by his daughters, Dr. Laura Lehmann (R. Cushing Hamlen) of Louisville, Kentucky; Kathy Francis (Bill) of Louisville, Kentucky; Judi Standridge (Gray) of Conway, Arkansas; and grandchildren, Daniel Francis (Tara McHugh) of Brooklyn, New York; Margaret Ann Taylor (Brandon) of Conway, Arkansas; Meredith Francis (Sean Price) of Chicago, Illinois; Nathaniel Standridge (Coleman) of Denver, Colorado; and Benjamin Hamlen of Des Moines, Iowa. Joe's sisters-in-law, Marilyn Billips (William) of Roswell, Georgia, and Janice Przystal (Fred) of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, also survive him, along with many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, Joanne, Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Shircliff Lehmann and Joseph Herman Lehmann, Sr.; his sisters, Mary Catherine Linette (Andrew) and Marjorie Ann Buzan (John); and his baby brother James Anthony Lehmann, whose loss Joe felt deeply throughout his life. Later in life, Joe said his close friend and neighbor, Mike Norman, became the brother Joe always longed for.

A rosary service will be held for Joe on Monday, Aug. 26, from 10-10:30 a.m. in the chapel of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Conway, with visitation to follow from 10:30-11:30 a.m. A funeral mass for Joe will begin in the chapel at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be held later at Calvary Cemetery in Louisville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe's memory to St Jude Children's Research Hospital.