Jerome H. Lehmann, age 85, of Battle Creek, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Eldora Specialty Care of Eldora, Iowa.
A Graveside Service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Mount Hope Cemetery of Battle Creek, Iowa, with military rites conducted by the Maple Valley Post #0364 of the American Legion of Battle Creek. Rev. Ken Miller will officiate.
A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Christensen–Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa.
The Christensen–Van Houten Funeral Homes of Ida Grove and Battle Creek, Iowa, are in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com.Â
Jerome Harry Lehmann, the son of Harry A. and Helen M. (Harms) Lehmann, was born on June 24, 1941, in Le Mars, Iowa. A year later the family moved to Battle Creek, Iowa. In high school he was active in baseball, basketball, and football and graduated with the Class of 1959.
In 1963 Jerome was drafted into the United States Army. He proudly served his country as a heavy weapons infantryman until receiving his honorable discharge in 1965. Following his military service, Jerome returned home, driving a feed truck as well as working on farms for various friends and neighbors.
On November 24, 1967, Jerome married Janiece Peterson at the First Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, Iowa. The couple were blessed with two sons, Kyle and Jerrod. The family later relocated to Alexander, Iowa, where Jerome worked for local farmer, Foster Barkema. In 1977, they returned to Battle Creek to be closer to family, and the community Jerome had always considered home. For the next 22 years, Jerome worked for the Battle Creek Community School District, serving first as a bus driver, then later as head of maintenance and groundskeeping. During this time, Jerome became an EMT and served on the Battle Creek Ambulance. He eventually returned to the open road and finished his working years as an over-the-road truck driver for Ruan Transport.
A farm boy through and through, Jerome never strayed far from his roots. Throughout his life, he worked for family and friends, whether it meant hauling, helping with farm work, fixing machinery, or tackling another project. A true jack-of-all-trades, he could fix, build, repair, or figure out just about anything put in front of him. Jerome enjoyed fast cars, horses, and fast-pitch softball in his younger years, and truly enjoyed fishing, boating, canoeing, hunting, and target shooting his entire life. He believed in hard work, helping others, and having fun along the way.
Jerome never met a stranger, and his outgoing personality and gift for conversation made it easy for him to strike up a friendship wherever he went. He especially enjoyed his morning coffee group, where stories were shared, opinions freely given, and the world’s problems were solved one cup at a time. Many of Jerome’s favorite memories were made outdoors, especially with a fishing pole in his hands. He loved telling fish stories, and somewhere along the way, everyone lost track of just how many “30-pounders” there had been.
Above all else, Jerome treasured his family. Becoming “Grandpa” was a title he wore with tremendous pride, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, family, and friends meant more to him than anything.
Survivors include his sons Kyle Lehmann of Battle Creek, IA and Jerrod (Tami) Lehmann of Carroll, IA; grandchildren Alexander (Rachael) Lehmann of Maryland, Zachary Lehmann of Maryland, Angelina (Cecil) Jensen of Denmark, Maverick (Elena) Lehmann of Maryland, Brenna (Jackson) Behn of Ankeny, IA, and Korbin Lehmann of Carroll, IA; great-grandchild Ellie Lehmann and another great-grandchild on the way; brother Dale Lehmann of Ida Grove, IA; sister Judy Schmidt of Battle Creek, IA; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Jerome was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Helen Lehmann; wife Janiece Lehmann; sister Joan Grothe and brother-in-law Bryan; and brother-in-law Ed Schmidt.
