Dansville – Richard John Lemen, age 89, passed away Sunday morning April 28, 2024, at Elderwood Nursing Home in Hornell. All of his children were at his side in his last days.
He was born in Dansville on July 15, 1934, the son of the late Tom C. and Martha Rose Holden Lemen. On June 26, 1954, he was married to Marilyn (Rectenwald) Lemen who predeceased him this year on January 31, 2024. He was also predeceased by his sister, Anita Burger, and his brothers, Lewis and Larry Lemen.
Richard graduated from Dansville High School in June 1952. He was the Captain of the High School Band, playing various instruments such as the trombone, piano, and baritone. He had a lovely voice and performed in the musical The Mikado with Marilyn. Following high school, he attended one year of college at Alfred State Technical School. He then enlisted in the Navy where he enrolled in the U.S. Navy School of Music. He was a trombone player in the band on the aircraft carrier Lake Champlain. He did several tours during the Korean War in the Mediterranean Sea. After his honorable discharge he came back to Dansville, started a family and worked many jobs in the area. He retired from Eastman Kodak as an electronics technician and educator in 1991. His hobbies included wood working, clock repair, fixing anything and making furniture, and toys for the grandchildren. Richard was a member and Elder of the Dansville Presbyterian Church, where he also sang in the choir and played in the handbell choir with Marilyn.
Surviving Richard are two daughters, Barbara (Jim Minerd) Lemen, Caroline (Norbert Nielubowski) Lemen, two sons Steven (Becky) Lemen and Peter (Wendy) Lemen. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Lillian, and Jean Lemen and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at 10:00 am on Monday May 20, 2024, a Memorial Service to follow at 11:00 at the Hindle Funeral Home Inc., 271 Main St. Dansville. Interment, with Full Military Honors will be in Greenmount Cemetery, Dansville. Online remembrances may be shared at HindleFuneralHome.com. Memorials may be made to Elderwood at Hornell, the Activities Coordinator, Jennifer Morales, 1 Bethesda Dr, Hornell, NY 14843-1048.
