Leroy E. "Lee" Lohman

LeRoy E. “Lee” Lohman, 85, of Rock Island, and long- time President of Lohman Companies, passed away Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Unity Point – Trinity Rock Island.  A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be held at 9:30 am on Wednesday, July 13th at Sacred Heart Church in Moline.  Father Mark DeSutter will celebrate.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Geneseo.  Visitation will be from 4-8 pm on Tuesday at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory in Geneseo.  Memorials may be made to the Lee Lohman Memorial Fund, to be distributed amongst several local organizations.

Lee was born on December 13, 1930 in Houghton, IA, the son of Joseph and Katherine (Sanders) Lohman.  He graduated from Geneseo High School in 1948; he attended the University of Illinois and graduated from St. Ambrose University in 1957.  He was united in marriage to Sharon M. Long on May 4, 1988 in Italy.  The original Lohman Insurance was founded in 1953 by Victor “Gus” Lohman and went on to become Lohman Brothers when Eugene C. Lohman joined the business.  In 1958 Lee joined his brothers adding a full range of life and health insurance, and annuities to the services offered by the Lohman Brothers Agency.  Over the next number of years the Lohman Brothers became organized in four corporations: L.B. Benefits, Lohman Insurance, Lohman Realty, and L.B. Enterprises.  The company continued under this organization for the next 20 years, through the 1960’s, 1970’s and into the 1980’s.  In 1972 the three brothers spearheaded the project to found Illini Beef from scratch.  It has since become Tyson Foods location.  During 1988/89 Lee and Gene divided the company business for estate and family purposes.  Lee became the CEO with his sons Brett, Todd, and Scott becoming Vice Presidents.  During 2001 management of the company was transferred to his three sons, but Lee still remained very active in the company.

Lee was a very active businessman.  He earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from the American College, insurance industry’s educational institution in Byn Marw, PA.  He was a lifetime and qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) organization.  This group is composed of the top life insurance producers in over 75 countries around the world and Lee was active in this group for over 45 years.  He was a member of the Top of the Table organization for over 30 years, this group is composed of the top 1% of all life insurance agents in the MDRT.  He was a member of the International Forum, which is a group of top life insurance producers around the world.  He was a teacher for a number of years in the Purdue University Life Insurance Institute.  Lee had served as President of the Quad City CLU Chapter (now known as the Society of Financial Planning Professionals) and the Quad City Estate Planning Council.  Lee has also worked as an insurance consultant to the American Meat Institute leading to speaking at meetings in 5 South American countries.  He was very active with General American Life (now part of the Metlife Group).  He served as past President of General Life Insurance Company’s General Advisory Council through which he has spoken in many General Life conventions around the world.  He was one of three founders of the General American Computer Club which developed computer programs based on the experience and knowledge of the club’s members.

Lee and his brothers were very active in their community.  They helped found the Geneseo Little League Football program.  They built the Country Estates subdivision north of Geneseo and over 100 homes in town.  He and his brothers were in the group which founded Illini Beef (now owned by Tysons).  They also built the Hillcrest Shopping Center and gas station which once stood where Walgreens is today.  Lee and his brothers built the Hillcrest Lanes which he took sole ownership of in the mid 1980’s and renamed Lee’s Lanes.  Lee was a driving force and major contributor in building the downtown Geneseo Library building.  He donated land to both Rock Island and Bettendorf Park Districts.  His gifts to St. Ambrose University, his alma mater, resulted in the building of Lee Lohman Arena for physical education.  And Lee’s gifts to the American College, in insurance industry’s educational institution in Byn Marw, PA, have earned him inclusion on their prestigious Founders Wall.  Lee was a prior Arthur Murray dance instructor, was an antique car collector and loved history.  He always looked forward to spending time with family and he liked boating in the Ozarks, he had been boating there since High School.  He loved celebrating his birthday, spending time in Florida and a good Manhattan.    He and Sharon also enjoyed traveling the world.  They have been to many countries in Europe, Asia and South America.  They were married in Venice Italy and have returned there several times.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Lohman; children: Brett (Harlene) Lohman, Todd (Chris) Lohman, Scott (Pam) Lohman, Jill (Joe) Dubin, Jann (Steve) Freehling, Lynn (Jeff) Anderson; step-children: Todd (Lisa) Broadbent and Troy Broadbent; 13 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren and 1 step-great grandchild; and sister-in-law: Verla Lohman. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Katherine Lohman; siblings: Eunice Lohman, Arlene Lohman, Eugene Lohman, Victor "Gus" Lohman, and Vera Oberg; daughter-in-law: Karla Lohman; 2 sisters-in-law, 1 brother-in-law and 1 grandchild.

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