Dr. Leo 'Doc' Leroy Lemonds

Hastings resident, Dr. Leo Doc Leroy Lemonds, 88, passed away, Monday, December 12, 2011 at his home. Services will be Friday, December 16, 2011 at 10:30 AM at the First United Methodist Church, Hastings, NE, with the Rev. Tony Dawson officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, December 15 from 9 AM to 9 PM with the family present from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Building Fund or Kids Against Hunger of Hastings, NE. Leo Lemonds was born on January 20, 1923, at Angus, Nebraska. Shortly after that, he and his family moved to Furnas County, NE. When in the seventh grade, the family moved east to Lincoln, Nebraska. There, he continued his life as a farm boy and graduated from College View High School in 1940. Following graduation from High School, his parents moved to a farm near Ames, Iowa, in 1940. Lemonds worked at many jobs while saving money to enroll at Iowa State University. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Iowa State in 1949. Following graduation, Lemonds established a general practice in Hastings, Nebraska. After 34 years of practice, Lemonds retired in 1983. While enrolled at Iowa State, Leo Lemonds met and later married Marcella Merritt of Norway, Iowa on September 12, 1945. They were married 66 years. They became the parents of three daughters and one son. There are 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Dr. Lemonds, during those 34 years and during retirement, was active in community, state, national and professional affairs. He was secretary of the Adams County Fair Board; member of Toastmasters Club and filled all offices, including being President; board member of Southern Hills Golf Club; past President of Southern Hills Realty Board; Chamber of Commerce, various committee chairmen and initiated 4-H Club Calf sale (Chairman first two years); coached Midget Football and American Legion Baseball; all offices of Four Rivers Sportsmens Club, including President for two years; served several terms on the board of the First United Methodist Church; member of the Adams County Historical Society; member of the Adams County Genealogical Society; member of the Morning Glories Book Club; member of the Nebraska Writers Guild; did volunteer work for the LDS Family History Center and was a 61-year member of the Hastings Kiwanis Club. In Kiwanis, he had been Club President and Lt. Governor of Division 17 of the Nebraska/Iowa District. Lemonds started a Golden K Kiwanis Club, was Chairman of the Ag Committee for several years and was the Chairman of the Historical Committee. He was a Life Member of the Nebraska/Iowa District and a Hixson Fellow of Kiwanis International. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and National Sod House Society. Professionally, he was a Life Member of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Veterinary Medical History Society. He started the South Central Veterinary Medical Association, until it became District V and was President the first two years. He served the NVMA on various committees and was chairman of the Professional and Consumer Relations Committee for several years and served on the Board of Directors. Lemonds was chairman of the History Committee that put together the Dr. Phillipson Veterinary Infirmary at Stuhr Museum in Grand Island. He was Co-chairman of the NVMA Centennial Committee. Lemonds was a Past President of the American Veterinary Medical History Society and was secretary/treasurer for eleven years. While conducting a busy veterinary practice, Dr. Lemonds began his writing hobby of genealogy and veterinary history. His major publications are: The Newton Forsythe Genealogy, A Century of Veterinary Medicine in Nebraska, Beginning the Second Century, Col. William StacyRevolutionary War Hero, The Life and Times of the Class of 49, Doc-Can you Come Out?, Doc-My Chickens are Dying, Docs - Dog and Cat Stories, a 75 Year History of the Hastings Kiwanis Club and Letters From Nebraska Sod House Pioneers and wrote a bi-annual family genealogical newsletter. His hobbies were hunting, fishing, golfing, writing, genealogy, reading and history. Lemonds received many honors and awards over the years, most notably the NVMA Veterinarian of the Year award and the Aggie award, given for outstanding contributions to Agri-business in Hastings and Adams County; NVMAs Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime of service to the veterinary profession in Nebraska and his community and the Kiwanis Legion of Honor award for 60 years of service. Survivors include his wife Marcella Lemonds of Hastings. Daughters and Spouses Karen Kempf, Jean (Steven) Murphy, Jacki Lemonds of Hastings. Son Doug (Sharlene) Lemonds of Orleans, NE. Grandchildren and Spouses David (Teresa) Kempf, Kimbra Parmer, William (Bonnie) Kempf, Jay (Crystal) Murphy, Jeremy (Tasha) Murphy, Stephanie (Kelly Kel) Wishon, Michelle (Darrin) Lewis, Corby Kimbrough, Casey Lemonds, and Casey Kimbrough. Great Grandchildren Joshua, Joseph, Connor, and Benjamin Kempf, Blaze Parmer, Brendan, Bailey, Declan, and Alyssa Murphy, Ryley, Tyler, Taylor, and Cassidy Lemonds, Cody Baumeister, Jersey and Drew Lewis, Paxton Larson, and Aydan Foster. Leo is also survived by brother Dale (Marion) Lemonds of Rancho Cocomongo, CA, sister Wilma (Robert) Posegate of Nevada, IA, Sisters-in-Law Dr. Myrtle Merritt of Geneseo, NY, and June (Fred) Neal of Cedar Rapids, IA. Leo was preceded in death by parents William and Lora (Rush) Lemonds and sister Fae (Lemonds) Goosic, grandsons Sean Murphy and Jay Palmer.