LeRoy V. Lampen

LeRoy Vaughn Lampen
April 12, 1926 – July 6, 2020

LeRoy Lampen, age 94, of Jones, passed away peacefully at Bowman Place with his son
Michael at his side. LeRoy Vaughn Lampen was born at the family farm
in Jones, Michigan on April 12, 1926 the son of Tony Lampen and Louisa
( Meyer) Lampen. The neighbor Helene Avery assisted in his birth.

He had one older sister Paulene. He grew up on the farm and graduated
from Three Rivers High School in 1945. He was immediately drafted and
sent to basic training in Oklahoma. He left behind a serious girlfriend who would eventually become his wife.

At the end of basic training he contracted pneumonia and was sent to a military
hospital in Arkansas. Penicillin was a relatively new discovery and
for almost 2 weeks he received an injection every 4 hours, 24 hours a
day picking any available spot that hadn't been used too often
previously. He said that after a while injections became so routine he
would not even wake up when administered. He was given leave, came
home, married his girlfriend then left for occupation Germany where he
would spend the remainder of his military service.

When he returned he moved back to the farm and purchased it from his father in
1948. He continued to farm raising corn, wheat, hay and livestock,
Consisting, of beef cattle and in the tradition of Cass County, pigs.
In 1985 he retired and put the farm in CRP (conservation) and then
mowed a lot of field grass and concentrated on his hunting and
fishing. He remained very active into his 90's and would still go to
the woods (by himself) to down trees and cut up firewood. The last 2
years became a challenge and he had always said he was born on the
farm and planned on dying on the farm. He came within 10 days of
succeeding. Unfortunately his last 10 days had to be spent in assisted living.

He is survived by his son Michael V.( Margaret) Lampen of
Jones, grandsons Joshua V. (Sarah) Lampen of Maryland, and Cameron P.
Lampen of Jones. Cremation has occurred and he specifically requested
there would be no service. Final interment will be at Poe’s Cemetery in
Jones. Online condolences may be left at www.materralstonfuneralhome.com