Ann Woodard Lehmann

The six of us lost our mother, Ann Lehmann, today. She passed away peacefully in the early hours of April 27th at the age of 95 years. She leaves us with a rich sense of humor, a reflex toward kindness to others, a love of dogs (she raised 14 of them) and a large sheaf of family anecdotes. If it's true that "when an elder dies, a library burns" then the world's literature is truly diminished.

Mom was born in Illinois, grew up in Des Moines where she married Webster Lehmann (deceased) and almost single-handedly raised six children. She attended Greenwood School, Ferry Hall Academy and University of Iowa. In 1979, she and her youngest child moved to Rhode Island. There she transformed her extensive knowledge of antiques into a shop in Stonington, CT. 15 years later with two dogs and no young children, she emigrated to coastal Maine. In both places, she completely renovated her houses, managing all aspects of the projects, particularly the design. In Maine, she worked with mentally challenged adults to help them express their artistic ideas at Spindleworks of Brunswick, Maine while auditing classes at Bowdoin College. She was a very talented seamstress, knitter and needle-worker. Mom learned to knit in grade school where they knit squares to be sewn together as blankets for the British in WWII. She moved back Des Moines in 2012.

Summing up a life in a simple obituary hardly captures the loss, however, the fact that Mom befriended, charmed and influenced those in her generation, our generation and many in younger generations speaks volumes. She loved and was loved.

Her favorite poem captures her outlook:

"If thou of fortune be bereft, and in thy store there be but left

two loaves, sell one, and with the dole, buy hyacinths to feed thy soul."

- John Greenleaf Whittier

We would like to thank the staff of Wesley on Grand's Health Center for their kindness, attention and good nature toward our mother. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to: Spindleworks 3 Industrial; Parkway Ste. 1 Brunswick, Maine 04011. She will be buried at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines next to her parents, Shifty and Ruth Woodard and among the swans and ducks we so enjoyed as children. A memorial service will take place later in the summer when the families are present. She is survived by her six children: Tad Lehmann, Stephen Lehmann, Meg Herran, Kate Lehmann, Fritz Lehmann and Ann Leibell, along with ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Be assured, if there is a heaven, Mom has already made her presence felt.