Charles F. Lehmann

Charles F. Lehmann went to be with our Lord and Savior on October 6, 2016. Charles was born on March 28, 1928 in Bucyrus, Ohio to Frederick and Julia (Stahl) Lehmann. Chuck learned to play the accordion and played professionally as a child with Trick Brothers. The family moved to Toledo where Chuck attended Shoreland Elementary School and Whitmer High School. In 1945, he left school to join the Army with his best friend Don Masell and was sent to Japan after basic training. On July 20, 1947 Chuck came home from the Army and met Vera Jean Ruegge (on her birthday). The two fell in love and were married in 1949. Being involved with motorcycles since his teenage years, Chuck participated in Jack Pine Endurance runs from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. In 1949, he was one of the original/founding members of and helped to build the clubhouse for Dux Motorcycle Club in Ottawa Lake, MI. After working at Martin Perry, Chuck went to work for his uncle Charlie Stahl at Harley Davidson Sales on Detroit Avenue in Toledo. Older Harley owners/enthusiasts still have the utmost respect for Chuck and would trust no one else repairing their bikes. Vera, who was raised in Point Place, said she always dreamed of living on the water so in 1952, Chuck built her a house on Silver Creek. In the mid 1970s Chuck also took on a temporary part time job working with his friend, M.G. Shadix on Semi trucks at Bekins. Also in the 1970s, Chuck bought an old 1942 Packard Clipper which he single handedly restored inside and out. Shortly after, he restored a 1949 Packard as well and joined the Packard Club while competing in many antique car shows, thus adding car trophies to his existing motorcycle trophies. Chuck and Vera had four children who were naturally all taught how to ride a Harley and taught that theres nothing they cannot do if they believe in themselves. Those children cannot remember ever seeing any type of repair person in their home. Dad did the plumbing, electric, car repairs and even bandaged them up when they hurt themselves. Chuck returned to Alexis Congregational Church in 1977 where he was a member and a deacon until 2009. That accordion was picked up again in the late 1970s and by the mid 1980s, Chuck was playing for the Toledo Holzhocker Buam Gruppe where he played for the dancers at the German American Festival in Oregon, OH and Oktoberfest in Ft. Wayne, IN and Clarksburg, TN. He was with them until the late 1990s. After retiring from Harley Davidson Sales in the late 1980s Chuck still repaired and restored antique motorcycles in his spare time. Preceded in death by son Kenneth and wife Vera. Survived by children: Charles A., James M. (Angela) and Lori A. (Larry) Pinkerman; grandchildren Marci Sansom, Kimberly Lehmann, Nicholas White, Megan White and Melanie Pinkerman; 5 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; best buddy/dog, Belle. Friends and family are welcome to the HH Birkenkamp Funeral Home, 3219 Tremainsville Rd. Toledo, OH 43613 (419-473-1301) from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, October 10, 2016. Services will be held at HH Birkenkamp Funeral Home Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 12:00 PM with burial to follow at Forest Cemetery. Visitation Monday, October 10, 2016 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM H.H. Birkenkamp Funeral Home 3219 Tremainsville Rd Toledo OH 43613 United States 419-473-1301 funeral service Tuesday, October 11, 2016 12:00 PM H.H. Birkenkamp Funeral Home 3219 Tremainsville Rd Toledo OH 43613 United States 419-473-1301