Anna A. Lehman

Anna was born July 31, 1951 on Namu Atoll, Marshall Islands to Atlan and Risa Shem Anien, the eldest of four sisters.  She had an idyllic childhood, with her father giving her the rich oral tradition, and her boundless curiosity about the larger world,

She created her own destiny by declining an arranged marriage, so that she could continue with her high school education while living at Anderson AFB, Guam.  She then worked one year with her father's office in the Parliament of the Islands, before enrolling at Goshen College in 1970, where she received a degree in political science.  She and Joe were married on September 9, 1972, at the College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

While raising their two children, Christian and Fern, she worked for the national government, including as director of social services.  She worked one year with her childhood friend, Ambassador Elizabeth Kabua, in the Tokyo Embassy.  She travelled to Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Palau, and Israel.  Through the years, she and Joe travelled domestically and internationally.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph, Goshen; son, Christian (Krista) Lehman of Raleigh, North Carolina and their two children, Samuel and Linnea; and daughter, Fern (Mark) Stege, and their two children, Beia and Dakine, of Majuro, Marshall Islands.  Her sisters, Hazel (David) Bruce and Rilan Anien survive in Honolulu.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Grace.

Anna was respected as a leader of her generation, in an ancient matriarchal society, so that despite all of her years living in Goshen, her spirit never left the Marshall Islands and its customs and traditions.

A memorial service will be planned for next year in Majuro, to also honor her father, who was brought to study at Goshen College in 1952 by Joe's uncle, linguist Byron Bender, who was a special friend of the islanders, having made a dictionary of English-Marshallese.

In keeping with Anna’s wishes, cremation will take place at Yoder-Culp Crematory.