Mervyn Ronald Lehmann (Merv) was born at Eudunda on December 14, 1932 to Alwine Elsa (nee Krieger) and Friedrich Otto Lehmann. Merv was christened on January 15, 1933 at the St John's Lutheran Church, Robertstown by Paster Proeve.
Merv grew up on the family farm with his parents, two sisters Dulcie and Doreen and his brother Dudley.
He attended Robertstown Primary School and Eudunda Area School and loved the fact that he was always top of his maths class in all grades.
Merv was confirmed on November 2, 1947 at St John's Lutheran Church, Robertstown by Pastor Materne.
He started work aged 16 for Mr Reg Roberts, he was told to wear a tie every day or don't bother coming back, so nearly every day after that he wore a tie to work, right up until the day he retired.
Merv joined National Service when he was 18 and served for three years.
He was a bit of a party man in his early years, and enjoyed going out with his friends, especially his best mate Felix.
There is a story about Merv and the Morgan Railway line but when it was mentioned all they did was laugh and change the subject.
Merv met his wife Rhonda (nee Behn) at a nurses' ball at Saddleworth.
It was actually a blind date, Merv's mate Lance was trying to impress a lady and she would only go out with Lance if he could find someone for her friend. Merv and Rhonda ended up courting, while Lance missed out.
Rhonda and Merv were married on February 24, 1964 at the Zion Lutheran Church, Saddleworth, by Pastor Thiele. Their honeymoon was supposed to be in Sydney, but Merv often reminded the family about how Rhonda left her make-up bag in the paddock and how they had to come back home to get it.
Merv and Rhonda bought the farm and lived there for the rest of their lives, for many years they milked cows, ran pigs, sheep, chooks and turkeys.
The couple attended many dinner dances, strawberry fetes and balls, both of them loved to dance and if Rhonda was having a break, Merv would still be on the dance floor with another lady.
The best day of his life was on June 10, 1972 when his daughter Cheryl arrived, he was as proud as punch and loved to show her off.
Cheryl has been told by so many people that he was so proud that apparently he kept handing her in and out of their kitchen window at his 40th birthday.
On April 1, 1976 Rhonda and Merv bought the Robertstown General Store and Merv's favourite saying was, "I bought the shop on April Fool's Day and I've been a fool ever since."
In 1984 Cheryl fell ill, and this almost killed Merv to know his precious little girl was so sick, but the three of them battled through it, and then when Rhonda got sick later on, this made the three of them even stronger and gave them a bond that would never be broken.
Merv very rarely missed a church service, and was proud to have served his Lord by being a lay reader and head steward for over 50 years.
Throughout his life Merv was involved in many organisations, Robertstown Primary School Committee, CFS for over 30 years (life member); Robertstown RSL Sub Branch member, secretary and president; Justice of the Peace 31 years, and the Official Robertstown rainfall measurer for Bureau Of Meteorology for over 12 years. He loved checking the gauge to see how much rain we'd had and sharing it with the town.
Merv loved his football; he played football for Robertstown, was secretary for 42 years, attended association meetings, was bar manager and made a life member.
Because of this he received Honours Sports People Award 2000, from the Queen; Recognition Awards AFL, Year of the Volunteer 2001 and 2002 and SANFL Merit Award 2002. He was a loyal member of the Norwood Football Club for over 50 years and went to nearly every game in the early years, later he became an Adelaide Crows follower but nothing compared to his Mighty Redlegs.
After 55 years of marriage Merv lost his wife Rhonda on October 2, 2017, this hit him hard and he always said to Cheryl, "Losing your parents is hard, but losing your partner is worse".
Merv received the Australia Day Citizen Award 1991, and accolades in 2018 for working in the store for 70 years.
Over the years many articles appeared in the papers about the shop but it was only after Rhonda died that Merv became really famous (Cheryl kept saying Rhonda sent them).
Merv ended up on Channel Seven (three times), Weekend Sunrise; in The Leader, Advertiser and SA Life Magazine, he was so popular in this magazine he even won the People's Choice Award 2020, and apparently he was the only person to ever receive over 10,000 hits.
Merv enjoyed playing bowls, and did so for a quite a number of years, he had won a few Grand Finals but his proudest was the very last season he ever played, he'd often remark, "We won the bugger and I went out with a bang".
Merv had many animals and pets over the years, boy did he love his pets – and his pets loved him.
If you'd come to the farm in the morning you'd have seen the daily ritual of the cocky getting a piece of toast for breakfast, the cats getting a ride on his walker and then sitting on his lap when he went to get the eggs/see the chooks.
The pet lambs would get a scratch on the head, and they'd followed him around like a shepherd with his sheep.
Merv will be remembered by some of his quirky sayings.
If a cat had gone away for a few days, he would comment, "And the cat came back". When a cat sat with him on his lap, he'd often chuckle, "Oh, you're just a pussy cat". Every time you asked him if he was all right, he would reply, "No, I'm only half right, cause I'm half left". And whenever he saw a pelican he would proudly tell you, "oh what a funny bird is a pelican cause his beak can hold more than his belly can".
Merv worked in the shop for 76 years, and he loved his visitors, he didn't care if they came from South Australia, interstate or overseas, he'd always make time for a chat, sometimes they'd stay for hours.
Due to ill health on August 2, 2024 the shop doors closed for good. This was the start of a very rapid decline in Merv's health and on December 20, 2024 he closed his eyes for the final time.
Left to mourn is his beloved daughter Cheryl, Rick, sister Dulcie, brother Dudley, in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, numerous family members and friends, and his cherished pets.
Merv touched the hearts of all and he will be deeply missed.
Information on Merv's life provided and reproduced with the permission of Merv Lehmann's daughter, Cheryl.
