|
Harlan Edward Lenander, Sr., 85, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday, May 3, 2003. He was born in Minneapolis, KS, the second child of Edward William and Ida Warren Lenander on September 13, 1917. He graduated from Southwestern College, Winfield, KS in 1939 with a BS degree in Physics, Math and Chemistry. He attended Duke University for graduate studies until he was called by the Secretary of the Navy to join a small group of scientists charged with developing a system to protect ships from magnetic mines during WWII, which was successful. Harlan met his wife in Washington, D.C. and they would have been married 60 years on May 7, 2003. They were transferred to the San Francisco, CA office where they remained until the end of the war. The next three years were spent at the Naval Ordnance Test Station in China Lake, CA, where rockets were being developed and tested. In 1949, he and his young family arrived in Albuquerque where he spent 29 years at Sandia National Laboratory. He worked in development and atomic testing spending much time at the South Pacific Eniwetok test site; Barking Sands, Kauai, HI; Tonapah, NV; and San Diego, CA for a special underwater test. He retired in 1978 as Director of Weapons Applications. Harlan received an honorary PhD from Southwestern College and was inducted into their Science Hall of Fame, April 13, 2003. He received many other honors for his volunteer service in Boy Scouts, Elks Cerebral Palsy Program, University Hospital volunteer in the laboratory, Sandia Lab Science Advisor Program, Optimists International and his church, Holy Cross Lutheran. Harlan was musically talented and had a perfect tenor voice. He sang in choirs for 70 years wherever he was, including on a navy ship. He played the piano, organ and cornet. He was a Boy Scout troop leader and had the only Boy Scout Band in New Mexico. He also served on the Kit Carson Executive board and in district offices. He received the Lamb award from the Lutheran Church for distinguished service to Boyhood and the Silver Beaver award, the highest award in scouting. The Sandia National Labs Science Advisor's Program gave him a chance to encourage students at Taft Middle School to pursue education in math, science and engineering. Optimists International conferred Life Member, Friend of Youth upon him. Governor Garry Carruthers recognized his volunteer work with a Volunteer Service Award. TV-7 chose him as a Jefferson Award winner for time and leadership to benefit the community. Travel was a special part of his life and trips throughout the U.S. took him to all 50 states. Foreign travel to Mexico, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, British Isles, The Holy Land, Greece, Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and the Bahamas were enjoyed and enriched the lives of all the family. Their 50th anniversary was celebrated by the entire family in Switzerland and Italy. They enjoyed watching their granddaughters participate in sports, beginning with Little League softball and soccer; going thru high school softball, volleyball, golf, and cheerleading; and college softball. He is survived by his wife, Helen; son, Harlan E. Lenander, Jr. DDS and his wife, Marie of Albuquerque; daughter, Margaret Ann Greenhaw and husband, Charles of Harrison, AR; three granddaughters, Mary Lynn Lenander Leidolf and husband, Robert of Plano, TX, Sherry A. Lenander of Albuquerque and Lisa Marie Lenander, a student at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX; his sister, Mrs. Donald Cary of Alma, NE; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Peter and Phyllis Masiero of Albuquerque; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Donald and Maxine Richardson of Hudson, FL; and nieces and nephews, Doug and Vicki Cary, Bill and Vicky Cary, Barbara and John Anthony and Jay and Kathy Kingery. Services will be held Saturday, May 10, 2003, at 1:30 p.m., at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6901 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Private entombment will take place at Chester T. French Memorial Mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menual Blvd. NE. An ice cream social will be held at 3:30 p.m., at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6901 Wyoming Blvd. NE, 87109 or to the National Kidney Foundation, PO Box 14238, Albq., 87191. French Mortuary 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE 823-9400
|
