Leo Lennemann
who died in the line of duty on November 14, 1954. A county-wide civil defense and volunteer fire department exercise at the Scribner airport backfired Sunday and one man was killed. Leo Lennemann, 44, died of a head injury when a pile of tires, lumber and other items, which had been soaked with gasoline, exploded and flying debris hit him in the head. The pile of debris was soaked as firemen sought to ignite a building which had been moved to the airport for the demonstration. Lennemann was standing nearby when the fire was set and the explosion occurred. Under plans for the demonstration, the building was to have been ignited and fire equipment from Nickerson, Hooper, Scribner, and other towns was to be dispatched to the scene. The fire fighters were to demonstrate methods of putting out the fire, and there also were to be exercises and demonstrations in rescue squad work and communications. Lennemann had retired as volunteer fire chief at Snyder, but was an honorary member of the department. A half dozen other persons standing near Lennemann escaped injury. He was laid to rest at St. Leo's Cemetery in Snyder. If anyone has a picture of Mr. Lennemann that we can add to our records please let us know. He will never be forgotten. HONOR ~ RESPECT ~ NEVER FORGET.
Marcella Marie Halbur Lennemann
was born on a Sunday afternoon on Sept. 14, 1915, to Henry and Georgia (Meyer) Halbur. She grew up on the family farm in southern Cuming County and attended St. Boniface Catholic School at Monterey until the eighth grade. She would take horse and buggy to school and, in the winter, would board with the nuns. As her other siblings moved away from home during the Great Depression, it became more important for Marcella to stay home and help on the farm.
On May 28, 1940, Marcella married Leo Lennemann at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Snyder. Marcy tended to the home and children while Leo operated an implement repair business in Snyder. After 14 years of marriage, Leo tragically lost his life as a member of the Volunteer Fire Department at a civil defense demonstration at the Scribner Air Force Base.
Several years later, Marcy began to work at Campbell’s Soup in Fremont, where she would meet her second husband. In 1967, Marcella married Ray Barton in Fremont. was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point and St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Snyder. Among the things she loved were family, her Catholic faith, the vivid sunsets of the Great Plains and beautiful landscapes. She cherished her good friends who were by her side when most needed. Her life was one with many trials. Through her strength, she was able to keep the family together through the most trying time.
