Roger L. Lehmann

Roger Lehmann, 85, died on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at his residence in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. He was born on March 27, 1941, in Ceylon, Minnesota, the son of George and Elsie Lehmann. Roger was the youngest of nine siblings. He graduated from Ceylon High School in 1959.

On September 13, 1964, Roger was united in marriage to Elizabeth Oechsle in Fennimore, Wisconsin. They lived in Fennimore until 1978, when they moved to Harvard, Illinois. In 2024, they relocated to Williams Bay, Wisconsin.

Roger began his dedicated 65-year banking career at Ceylon State Bank in Minnesota. He later worked at Fennimore State Bank in Wisconsin. He finished his career at The Harvard State Bank, where he served as Executive Vice President, President & CEO, and lastly, Senior Board Member. He proudly went to work up until his very last day.

Roger was a deeply active member of his community. He served on the Federal Home Loan Bank Board of Chicago for 14 years. He also served as the President of the Illinois Community Bankers Association, President of the Harvard Diggins Library Board, and was an original founder of the Harvard Community Education Foundation. Roger was also a world-class traveler who visited all seven continents, as well as both the North and South Poles. He loved gardening and regularly shared his produce with the Harvard Food Pantry.

Roger is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth; one son, Phillip (Julie); daughter-in-law, SunHee Thomas; and five grandchildren: Alexis, Lindsay (David), Keira, Justin, and Sophia. He is also survived by his two sisters, Iris and Winnifred; one brother, Melvin (Susan); and five sisters-in-law: Bertha Allen, Trudy Staskal, Anne Rowe, Margaret Oechsle, and Eldeen Oechsle.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, William and Erika Oechsle; and two of his sons, Mark and David. Notably, Roger donated a kidney to his son David in 1997. He was also preceded in death by his siblings: Phyllis, Donald, Gerald, George, and Marie; his brothers-in-law: John, Paul, Ewald, Bill, Duane, Burlee, Henry, Eugene, and Milton; and his sisters-in-law: Bernice, Ruth, and Helen.

Nothing brought him greater happiness than being surrounded by his loved ones.  He loved his family dearly and treasured every single minute spent together – whether sharing stories around the dinner table, offering quiet words of advice, or cheering on his grandchildren.  His warmth, devotion, and boundless love will remain his greatest legacy.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27th from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home, 107 W. Sumner Street, Harvard, Illinois.  There will be a short visitation on Friday, August 28th from 10-11AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 504 E. Diggins Street, Harvard, Illinois and will be officiated by Pastor Scott Stolberg.  Interment will be in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Harvard, Illinois.  A luncheon will be held at the Big Foot Inn Restaurant 11508 US-14 Harvard, Illinois at 12:30PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Roger’s honor to the Harvard Food Pantry and Harvard Diggins Library.

Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home is honored to serve the Lehmann family. 

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