Blondena Lohman

With her son Mark and niece Janet by her side, Blondena Mae Lohman left for her heavenly home in the last minutes of February 10th, 2022, to meet Jesus face to face, and hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Lord.” She was reunited not only with her husband of 71 years, Wesley, who just 39 days prior, went home ahead of her–but also a number of family and friends gone on before her.

Blondena was born in Benton County, Missouri, on July 28th, 1931 to Della D. (nee Cole) and Charles W. Smith. On her first birthday, her only sibling Jewel Dene was born. One could surmise that as a young girl having been born first, she might have had some issues in sharing her special day, as in her story, self-titled “My Life”, she writes “I never really seriously objected to having to share birthdays, I guess, but now I’m happy to share them with her.” At holiday dinners, she loved regaling us with sisterly adventures. One particularly amusing story involved the two sisters sitting close together on a bench to practice their piano lessons. It was never revealed exactly whose idea it was, but one of them suggested that the first one to play through a piece without a mistake got to punch the other one. She would always slyly comment, “You can guess where that led!”

She would seem to have been that “perfect” child; she loved her parents, sister, teachers, school, small town, and most of all, her church. She was a good and obedient student. She loved to sing, both in school, and in her church–but in her life story and at the holiday dinners, a few mischievous reminiscences from her childhood confirmed she was indeed, human like the rest of us.

She attended college at Warrensburg for a few short years. In an evening ceremony on October 14th, 1950, Blondena Mae Smith married Wesley Henry Arthur Lohman at First Baptist Church of Higginsville. She loved to recount her memories of their wedding; some of her many favorites included her mother making all the dresses for the wedding party, how beautiful the flowers made the sanctuary, and how full the church was.

The following year found Wes drafted into the Army. The young couple spent a year together at Camp Gordon in Georgia, where she worked as a secretary on base, and saw his orders come in that he was being shipped overseas. She came back home to Higginsville and worked at the bank until his return, upon which they moved to Kansas City where Wes began his 38-year career with A T & T. They welcomed their first son, Mark, on his (Wes’s) birthday, August 12th, of 1959, and a second son, Gary, in November of 1961. Being born with several congenital issues, Gary lived but two years. The faith of this couple was sorely tested at this time, but the Lord matured them spiritually in Him and in each other. Together they chose to trust in God’s goodness as they released Gary to the sometimes difficult will of their loving Heavenly Father. In this hardship, God planted the seed of a strong faith that became a vibrant testimony for the rest of their lives, and which has been the foundation of their love for, and generosity to, their family, friends, church, and service to their community.

The very core of Blondena’s being was her relationship with the Lord. She begins the story of her life with the verse Luke 12:48: “…for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…”. She understood she was a sinner in need of forgiveness at the tender age of nine, and accepted Jesus as her Savior. Also at a young age she recognized the fact that she was “so fortunate to be born into a home that honored and taught the Bible truths.” Those truths have been the center of her life, ALL her life. When she married Wes, they purposed to build their home on those same truths and principles of God’s Word. For anyone who has known them, their marriage has been a beautiful testimony of the application of scriptural truth in daily life. Their marriage was not perfect (they would be the first to tell you that), but it was characterized by their united goal of serving, loving, and honoring God. They were faithful to Him and one another. They read God’s Word together daily, and among the things and people for which they prayed every day, they were faithful to bring before God by name each family member, as well as their Pastor and his family, and the country they loved. They were purposeful, and honorable in their lives. It was the fabric of who they were.

Blondena was a person of unbelievable energy, passion, and vitality. She loved life. The things she loved, she loved greatly: first, God and His Word; second, Wes; a very close third, COFFEE; and fourth, her family. Oh, she would say she loved everything else before coffee, but if you knew her, you knew that her name and coffee were synonymous! And by the way, that coffee better be SCALDINGLY hot. She had no use for “warm” coffee and thought it an abomination!

She was quite creative and enjoyed many activities through the years. Most people slow down by the time they arrive at the decade of their eighties, but not Blondena. She and Wes were faithful servants of God and even as recent as the last year or so, were “taking the old people” of their church to doctors’ appointments and errands. She lovingly, and with strength, dignity, and perhaps a good measure of German independence (also known as pride) faithfully cared for her husband and the major physical issues he had.

Her spiritual gift was hospitality, and she blessed many with that gifting from God. A wonderful hostess who adored having family and friends for holiday events and parties, she delighted making her home a place of welcome and joy.

She was a Sunday School teacher for many years; she loved teaching God’s Word to women. An inveterate newspaper reader (before it went digital), she would, as she said, “read it ’kiver to kiver’”. She was a talented painter and furniture refinisher. She and Wes loved going with friends both on cruises and to the dinner theater. And believe it or not, she, like her son Mark, could make fish tremble! If you mentioned “wetting a line”, she was all over it! She LOVED to fish.

But even more than all these enjoyments, she and Wes loved and enjoyed their family! Their son, his wife, and kids (and their families!), as well as the nieces they loved as daughters, and their families.

Blondena and Wes had three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. They seldom missed a single event each grandchild has participated in, whether dance recitals, sports, Scouting activities, plays, graduations, award ceremonies…you name it!

Like Wes, Blondena was a person of deep conviction. Through their shared love of the Lord, their desire and passion was to please and honor Him. They were both acutely aware of their testimony in front of a watching world, and purposed together to live a righteous life, a life that the Lord blessed. It has been their fervent prayer that all their family will live lives devoted to a relationship with Jesus. In both the physical world and the spiritual world, she ended the writing of her life story in the same manner she began, with the importance of understanding our accountability before the Creator for all He has given us, and our use of those gifts. Isaiah 26:8 fit them perfectly: “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

By only 39 days, Blondena was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 71 years, Wesley; also a son, Gary Stephen; her mother, father, and sister, Jewell Dene Bailey. She is survived by her beloved son, Mark Lohman (Lisa) of Independence; three grandchildren, Ashley White (Brandon) of Lee’s Summit, Kaitlyn Hauser (Isaac) of Lee’s Summit, and Austin Lohman (Allie), of Olathe, KS; and four great grandchildren: Parker, Foster, and Claire White, and Easton Lohman; and two nieces whom she considered like daughters, Judy Bird (Jim), and Janet Schamback (Bob), and a host of great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be directed to Oakwood Baptist Church, 7600 Lee's Summit Road, Kansas City, MO, 64139.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 12 pm, and the funeral service will begin at 1 pm at Park Lawn Funeral Home 8251 Hillcrest Rd Kansas City, MO 64138. Burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 12 pm, and the funeral service will begin at 1 pm at Park Lawn Funeral Home 8251 Hillcrest Rd Kansas City, MO 64138. Burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.