Darwin W. Lehning

Darwin W. Lehning of rural Emporia, Kansas, died on April 10, 2014 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. He was 81.

Darwin was born on July 27, 1932 in Boone, Iowa, the son of Thomas H. and Ferne E. Johnson Lehning. He married Margie Ann Lyle on December 31, 1954 in Austin, Texas. She survives of the home.

Surviving family members include his wife; three daughters, Wendy A. Fancher, Angela J. Houser, and Sandra D. Ison, all of Emporia; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Lehning was a graduate of Topeka High School in 1951. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He is a Korean War Veteran. Upon discharge, he worked 10 years at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Plant in Topeka.

During his employment he attended Clark’s Business School and also attended classes at Washburn University. Upon graduation from Clark’s Business School in 1964, he was tested and certified by the Supreme Court of Kansas as a court reporter.

Between 1966 and 1972 he went on to pass the National Shorthand Reporters Association’s three-part Certificate of Proficiency, and in later years passed two of three parts of the NSRA Certificate of Merit. He was a past member of the National Shorthand Reporters Association and also the Kansas Shorthand Reporters Association.

He was employed eight years by the Fifth Judicial District Court, beginning in 1964. He was an active partner and participated in the creation of Mid-America Reporters, a statewide court reporting firm, in 1972. He freelanced through the firm for several years and then partially retired. Following that time, he returned to the Fifth Judicial District as the official court reporter and retired in 1994.

He was a member of Ball-McColm Post #5, American Legion, and Lowry-Funston Post #1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Darwin enjoyed riding motorcycles and morning coffee with his buddies.

Cremation is planned, with a private memorial service. Interment will be at a later date in Chicago Mound Cemetery east of Emporia. The family requests no flowers.