Idella Colleen Lohman

Idella Colleen (Neal, Kemper, Meadors) Lohman

July 23, 1930 - March 30, 2022

Idella Colleen Lohman , 91, of Worthington, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at her residence at The Kemper House Worthington, 800 Proprietors Drive, Worthington, OH 43085. She was born on July 23, 1930 in Huntington W.V, the daughter of John Odel Neal and Eleanor Cart. She was preceded in death by her brother Emmett Neal, Ray Neal, and Donald Neal. She is survived by her husband Chuck, and her five children: Kenneth (and Caryl) Kemper of Granville, Ohio, David (and Jackie) Kemper of Lansing, Michigan, Barbara Nichols (who survives husband Roger) of Grove City, Ohio, Charles “Buddy” (and Diane) Kemper of New Port Richey Florida and Gary Kemper of New Port Richey, Florida. She is survived by seven grandchildren: Todd Naille, Teresa Tingley, Aaron Kemper, Mathew Kemper, Jason Nichols, Scott Nichols, and Jessica Kemper. She is survived by twelve great grandchildren: Laney Naille, Emma Naille, Carley Naille, Jackson Tingley, Boru Mathew Tingley, Ashley Kemper, Joel Kemper, Megan Kemper, Zachary Nichols, Emily Nichols, Kevin Nichols, and Ryan Nichols.

Her kids enjoyed her passion, creativity, and endless love for them. No matter what the challenge, she tackled it with energy. The challenges were many being married to a military man, Garland Kemper (who she married in 1946). Their travels began early, as after the birth of Kenneth (Allen) they were on the move to Albuquerque, NM from Gallipolis, OH. David was born in Gallipolis, OH after they returned to Ohio, then the family moved to Woodbridge, VA (close to Fort Belvoir), where Barbara and Charles (Buddy) were born. Then it was time for the next great adventure, sailing on a large passenger ship to Tokyo, Japan (and Camp Drake). It was in Japan that Gary was born into the Kemper family. Mom took it all in stride, even the small earthquake that greeted the family on their arrival in Tokyo. Three years later, it was time to move back to Virginia and Fort Belvoir. In 1961, Mom picked up the family to follow Garland to Orleans, France (Harbord Barracks installation). Mom was tireless, taking the boys to their individual baseball games, participating in a women’s group that traveled all over France and visiting places where she purchased the many things that she collected. She and Dad then brought the family back to the States and Fayetteville, NC (Fort Bragg). In 1964, they moved the family to Columbus, OH while Dad went on his first tour of duty in Vietnam.

It was with the move to Columbus, OH, that Mom began her professional career with the kids now at an age where she could have a job. She exhibited in this stage of her life the many traits of loving people, not knowing a stranger, and wanting to serve others that all those who came into contact with her so much appreciated and loved her for. She was appointed manager of a new JoAnn Fabrics store at Great Western Shopping Center in Columbus, OH in 1970, and then the Sears store at Westland Shopping Center.

In June of 1977 she married Ralph Meadors of Westerville, OH. She and Ralph then moved to Lehigh Acres, FL, where she got to continue her career with Sears. It was at this Sears that she became the first instructor for Microwave Cooking for them at that store, worked in most of the departments at Sears, but most importantly was asked to oversee the “Christmas Shop” for years. It was here that she was able to assemble her famous Christmas decoration collections (probably 8-10 different Christmas theme collections). She continued to shine as a people person for all of her time with Sears, showing a wonderful ability for organizing (clothing and other things), as well as all the special skills needed to operate in the many departments that she worked in. During this time, she and Ralph sang together in the church choir at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, FL, went on a number of trips with the Church including to the Holy Land, Ireland, and several mission trips (including one to Ecuador).

After Ralph’s death in 2001, Mom, ever the adventurer moved to Fairfield Glade, TN. It was there while attending the First Baptist Church of Fairfield Glade that she met Chuck Lohman, who she married in 2006. She loved and adored Chuck. She used her skills from Sears in Tennessee as she volunteered at the Cumberland County Playhouse. The family wants to thank the many people at The First Baptist Church who knew and loved her so well. She and Chuck moved to the Good Samaritan Retirement Community in 2015, where she continued to exhibit her love of people and desire to serve others.

In 2020 at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Mom moved to The Kemper House in Worthington, OH for treatment of her Alzheimer’s disease. In her final years at the Kemper House Worthington, she was perpetually happy, full of energy, and always reaching out to serve her fellow residents and help the staff. Staff at Kemper House were amazing, being with and LOVING Idella to the very end (the vision of seeing the Kemper House staff come in and praying with Idella and expressing their love will ever stay with the family). The family wishes to thank the Capital City Hospice staff who watched over Idella at the very end. The family is very thankful to know that Mom is now with her Lord. Idella, to quote Mathew 25:23, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

There will be a Memorial Service for friends and family on Saturday April 9, 2022 at 11:00 am at The Granville Chapel, 309 West Broadway, Granville, OH 43023. On Wednesday April 13, 2022 there will be a Graveside Service at 10:30 am. at Lee Memorial Gardens in Ft. Myers, FL. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Kemper House Worthington, 800 Proprietors Rd., Worthington, OH 43085, or Capital City Hospice, 2800 Corporate Exchange Dr. #170, Columbus, OH 43231

A graveside service for Idella will be held Wednesday, April 13, 2022 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park, 12777 State Road 82, Fort Myers, FL 33913.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leememorialparkfuneralhome.com for the LOHMAN family.