Jean "Jeanie" Lechmaier

Jean “Jeanie” Marie Lechmaier (nee Hanke), age 69, of Longwood, FL, reached her heavenly home on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, while in VITAS hospice care at Orlando Lutheran Towers. Beloved wife of 50 years to Daniel C. Lechmaier. Loving mother of Chris (Tricia) Lechmaier, Brad (Tanya) Lechmaier, and Eric Lechmaier. Loving grandmother of eight grandchildren: Madelyn, Emilia, Ava, Keelan, Riley, Isla, Selah, and Chloe. Sister to Sue (Barry) Anderson and the late Greg (Cindy) Hanke. Sister-in-law of Pat (the late Archie) House, Deb (the late Jim) Lechmaier, Ron (Phil) Lechmaier, Gene (Cathy) Lechmaier, Chuck (the late Charlene) Lechmaier, and John (Barb) Lechmaier. She is further survived by other family and friends.

Jeanie was preceded in death by her parents, brother Greg Hanke, mother-in-law Hedwig Lechmaier, father-in-law John Lechmaier, brother-in-law Jim Lechmaier and Archie House, sister-in-law Trish Lechmaier and Charlene Lechmaier, and nephew Ronald Lechmaier.

Jeanie was the oldest born to Vernon and Estelle Hanke (nee Kriplean) on April 5, 1953 in Sioux Falls, SD. She grew up in Rib Lake, WI and graduated from Rib Lake High School in 1971. On June 6, 1972 she was united in marriage to Daniel Lechmaier of Rib Lake, WI. They moved to Milwaukee, WI when Dan took a job with A.O. Smith. While her children were young, Jeanie was a stay-at-home mom and was active in Parent Teacher Association and Cub Scouts. In the late 1980s she became a certified optician and took a position with Paramount Optical. While working at Paramount Optical and delivering safety glasses to several local companies, she became affectionately known as the “Eyeglass Lady.” Upon her husband’s retirement from Tower Automotive (formerly A.O. Smith) in 2002, she moved back to Rib Lake, WI. Jeanie became active in the TOPS Club chapter in Rib Lake and would later be crowned 2012 Queen at their national convention in San Diego, CA. She worked at HealthView Eye Care Center in Medford, WI and retired in 2018. Following retirement, she and Dan moved to Longwood, FL. Jeanie enjoyed reading, travel, baking, playing cards, walking, swimming, and playing with her grandchildren.

A gathering and celebration of life will be held from 2:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday, July 30th, 2022 at Baldwin-Fairchild Oaklawn Chapel in Sanford, FL. A visitation will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, August 27th, 2022 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Rib Lake, WI. At 12:00pm a funeral mass will follow.