Mary Marjorie Lehwald
Mary Lehwald
ENCINITAS, CA – Mary Marjorie “Marj” Lehwald, 98, of Encinitas, CA, passed into glory at 10:10 a.m. on Monday, October 28, 2019, at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas. Marj was born on December 13, 1920, in Flat Branch Moweaqua, IL, the daughter of Howard and Alma Fern (Pinkston) Neil. She married Howard Bell Lehwald in 1941 in Kahoka, MO; he preceded her in death in 2003.
Marj was a 1938 graduate of Bloomington High School. She attended Norman Rockwell’s School of Art in NY and graduated from Connecticut’s Famous Artist School, specializing in oil paintings. Marj’s husband was in the Navy and she spent her life as a homemaker raising her family. In addition to art, she was also a talented writer having written three books and many poems. Marj would make baskets out of pine needles, carved block prints to illustrate her poetry books, and crocheted prayer shawls. She enjoyed playing the piano, her daily walks, and being active in her church as the Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher, and a choir member.
Marj is survived by her two sons, Howard (wife, Cindy) Lehwald, Jr. of Bishop, CA, and Steven (wife, Debbie) Lehwald of Greeley, CO; three daughters, Bonnie (husband, Al) Halvorsen of Avon Lake, OH, Linda (husband, Earl) Gaball of Battle Creek, MI, and Rebecca (husband, Michael) Levas of Encinitas, CA; thirteen grandchildren, Linda, Jim, Heidi, Curtis, Heidi, Heather, Howie, Eric, Stephen, Stephanie, Steven, Selina, and Tiffany; thirty-one great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents; two grandsons, Jeff and Matt Gaball; and four brothers, Leo, Rodney, Bill, and Jack Neil.
Visitation: Family will receive guests from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield, IL.
Funeral Ceremony: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield with Celebrant Heidi Thimke, granddaughter of Marj, along with Marj’s five children, officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rebecca Levas, 1810 Orchard Wood Rd., Encinitas, CA 92024. The contributions will be used to purchase memorial benches in honor of Howard and Marj; envelopes will be available during ceremonies.
Please visit butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.