Kenneth J. “Kenny” Lehmkuhl, 82, of Seneca, Kansas, died early evening Friday, April 2, 2004, at his home. He had been in ill health with cancer since September of 2003.

He was born July 7, 1921, on a farm near Kelly, Kansas, the son of Joseph B. and Gertrude Waller Lehmkuhl. The family moved to Fidelity where he attended St. Augustine School, and then to Oneida, where he graduated from grade school. Kenny worked on the family farm. Shortly before World War II, he shucked corn for a time around Mason City, Iowa, and from there enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served at Camp Cook near Santa Maria, California in the tank destroyer division. After transfers to Muskogee, Oklahoma and Brownsville, Texas, he was stationed overseas in Hawaii and the Phillipines. He was discharged in 1945.

On July 4, 1943, he married Crescentia “Tiny” Feldkamp at Camp Cook, Santa Maria, California. Kenny and Tiny celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries.

After discharge from the Army, Kenny returned to Seneca and worked for Lawrence Olberding at the Skelly Oil Station on Main Street in Seneca. He bought the Log Cabin service station on Highway 36 and operated it for several years. He also worked for Duke Higbee, delivering feed around the Midwest, and for Winterscheidt Milling Co., and for the City of Seneca as caretaker of the cemetery.

In 1962 he took on the job of custodian of Sts. Peter & Paul School where he kept the place running for 25 years, while serving up joking banter and general good humor for all the kids and faculty. He liked to play the ornery ol’ cuss, but really it was just a “put on” with the kids to make them laugh. He enjoyed being around young people and was always very positive and encouraging. He will no doubt be remembered and loved by 25 years of Sts. Peter & Paul School alums.

In 1987 he started work as a maintenance tech for Nemaha County Training Center in Seneca and Sabetha, a job he held until the present time.

As a young man he played catcher on Seneca baseball teams, and also played baseball in the Army. He coached American Legion baseball in Seneca for several years. He liked hunting with his dog and watching western movies.

Kenny was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the St. Joseph Society at the church in Seneca. He was a member of the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors are his wife, Crescentia “Tiny,” of the home; four daughters, Sharon Norwood of Kansas City, Missouri, Elaine Broxterman and Bernita Manos, both of Topeka; and Glenda Moore of Columbia, Missouri; two sisters, Mildred Hermesch of Seneca and Jeannette Barkley of Uhrichsville, Ohio; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald and Elmer; and three sisters, Delores Haler, Jane Gay, and Virginia Wilhelm.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, April 6, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 7 PM Sunday and 2 & 7 PM Monday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School or for the Nemaha County Training Center, and sent in care of the family.