Mildred "Millie" Lehmer

Intelligent and determined, when it came to achieving her goals Millie Lehmer was like a force of nature. Friends affectionately described her as feisty, and the words Dont mess with Millie! might as well have painted above her door. Beneath her iron resolve, however, beat a kind and caring heart, and Millie was deeply attached to her beloved friends and family members. Millies unflagging tenacity, sincere kindness, and deep faith will live on in the hearts and memories of all those who had the privilege of knowing her, both as a cherished memory and a source of inspiration in the years to come. The 1930s were a decade of hardship for many Americans, sandwiched between the stock market crash of 1929 and World War II. Against this somber backdrop, 1933 was notable for the end of prohibition, the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the first alleged sighting of the Loch Ness monster, and the debut of the Lone Ranger. For proud parents Edward and Ruth Lehmer, however, by far the brightest moment of the year was the birth of their daughter, Mildred (Millie), on February 18, 1933. One of ten children, Millie grew up with seven siblings: Maxine, Edward, Marie, Roy, Connie, Patricia, and Marlene (two children died in infancy). There was almost a 40-year age difference between the oldest and youngest child, and as a result the younger and older kids almost seemed like two separate families. Millies father, Edward, supported his large family by working on the railroads and in the coalmines. Sadly, the dangers inherent to these professions eventually took their toll, and Edward contracted tuberculosis when Millie was still quite young. One of her earliest memories was of visiting her father in the hospital, but only being able to look at him through a window (due to the highly contagious nature of the disease, Edward was kept in isolation). Edward passed away in 1946, when Millie was 13 years old. Although Millie was born with cerebral palsy, she never let the disease stop her from doing what she wanted to do, and never considered herself to be handicapped. Unwavering in her resolve to overcome her challenges, young Millie taught herself to walk without braces, and also conquered an early speech impediment. Growing up in a world that was not handicap-accessible, Millie simply adjusted her attitude and her route to make things work. When the time came for Millie to go to school, she attended a one-room schoolhouse with her siblings. After class let out in the afternoon, Millie loved playing tag and softball in the yard with her siblings. When it was Millies turn to bat, she would hit the ball, and then someone would be a pinch runner for her. She was also active in 4-H for sewing, knitting and painting, and especially enjoyed painting on velvet. After graduating from Baldwin High School, Millie attended Muskegon Community College first and then went on to earn a degree in social work from Western Michigan University. The day she accepted her diploma was a very proud day for Millie she was the only child in her family to attend and graduate from college. She found a job at Goodwill, and worked in various positions within the company until her retirement. For a number of years, Millie lived on her own at Barclay Villages. She met many of her closest friends here, including her best friend, Rosemarie, who is blind. Millie and Rosemarie shared many interests, and often took in local social events, summer concerts, festivals, and art fairs together. They became like family, and it wasnt uncommon for them to make Thanksgiving dinner together. Millie was a huge baseball fan, and Millies sister remembers taking Millie and Rosemarie to a Tigers baseball game one year. She made sure they had great seats, but one of the seats did have a bit of a blocked view. Rosemarie took that seat, and then joked the whole game about not being able to see the action! She had brought her radio, and followed the game by listening to the announcers as well as the reactions of the crowd. Each year, Millie and Rosemarie also looked forward to going to summer camp. Millie loved swimming in the lake, and always made sure to learn as much as possible. The camp, designed for handicapped individuals, was able to accommodate the guests needs without making them feel as though they had a disability. In her free time, Millie enjoyed playing cards or board games such as Yahtzee and Scrabble. She also was a connoisseur when it came to her meals, and could safely be called a foodie. Throughout her entire life, Millie was sustained and strengthened by her strong religious faith. She attended Lakeside Wesleyan Church, and became very close to the pastor and his wife. Towards the end of her life, she was a regular visitor in their home, and shared many meals with them. Independent and feisty, hardworking and resolute, Millie was a loving sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members. Mildred Millie Lehmer died on June 2, 2013, at the age of 80. She is survived by, Sisters, Patricia "Pat" Buerger-Kellett of Grand Rapids, Marlene (Gerald) Carter of Allendale; several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held for her on Monday, June 17, 2013 at Clock Funeral Home-Muskegon. Paster Zawdie Abiade will preside. A social hour will be held prior to the service from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Clock Caf. Memorial contributions may be directed to Goodwill Industries, Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired-Muskegon Chapter, Lakeside Wesleyan Church.