Janet Lehan

Janet Lehan, nee Engel, passed away in Marietta, GA, on March 19, 2023, a few months shy of her 91st birthday. She is preceded in death by her father Elmer John Engel, her mother Lucille Rebecca Engel, nee Pruett; uncles Irvin and William Engel; aunt Josephine Wendling, nee Pruett, uncle Roy Wendling; and cousins Margie Peterson, nee Wendling, and Cheryl Wendling, nee Hotto. Also preceding her death was her beloved husband, Thomas Patrick Michael Lehan. Janet is survived by a daughter, Teri Ann Walker, nee Lehan, and son-in-law, Douglas Kevin Walker, and their children, Madelyn Jo Walker and Thomas Griffin Hart Walker, in Marietta, GA. Janet lived with the Walker family for the last few months of her life, before a short stay at a hospice facility. Her son, Kevin John Michael Lehan, residing in Sauget, IL, and his twin daughters, Ashley Breanna Lehan and Alexandra Suzanne Lehan, of Chicago, IL, remain as well. Other loved ones remaining include cousin Bruce Wendling, of Smithton, IL, and his and Cheryl’s children and grandchildren. Janet was a January 1950 graduate of East Saint Louis Senior High School and was a National Honors Society member. She was named Job's Daughters Queen of Bethel 20 and was a proud graduate of the prestigious Miss Hickey’s Secretarial School. She applied those skills in law offices in East St. Louis and Belleville, IL; worked for a St. Clair County, IL court reporter; and was an executive assistant at the Mercantile Library in St. Louis. Janet was heavily involved in volunteering and became the 22nd District President of the Illinois Federation of Women’s Clubs. She was a creative woman who won the talent portion of the Miss East St. Louis Pageant; she appeared on local television performing lip-sync routine; and was featured in local newspaper articles for children’s books she wrote for her daughter, Teri. She was also a long-time choir member at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Belleville, IL. Born in East St. Louis, Janet and Thomas lived there after marriage in 1954 and moved to Belleville, IL, in 1968. Upon retirement in 1996, Janet and Thomas moved to Sun City Center, FL, which was their lifelong goal. Janet was a member of several women’s card groups, and a chorus group, and volunteered at the community library. She enjoyed dinner parties, lawn bowling, and square dancing with Thomas, as well as being on Security Patrol together once a month. They met a tremendous group of friends, including Douglas’ parents, Col. Peter Hart Walker (deceased) and Barbara Walker of Marietta, GA. Janet and Thomas traveled while their health allowed. They hosted many visits from their children and grandchildren in their dream Florida home before moving to an independent senior-living facility in Sun City Center. As Thomas’ health declined, they moved near their daughter Teri in Marietta, GA. Until she moved into the Walker family home in January of 2023, Janet was a next-door neighbor to dear friend Barbara Walker, nee Barrow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Belleville, IL.

Janet Lehan

July 31, 1932 - March 19, 2023