Doyne C. Lenhart

Doyne Lenhart, 90, of Georgetown, Illinois passed away at 10:01 pm, Friday, July 26, 2024, at Harrisons Crossing, Terre Haute, Indiana. He was born in Georgetown, Illinois on March 17, 1934, the son of Herbert and Ferne (Hughes) Lenhart. He was united in marriage to Marcia Moss of Paris, Illinois on a hot June 10th day in 1956. They were married for 66 years until Marcias passing in 2022. He is survived by his children, Tracy (Brian) Morgan of Cayuga, IN, Kerry (Anita) Lenhart of Georgetown, IL and Jeff Lenhart of Fithian, IL; his grandchildren, Annie (Tim) Romanello, Brent (Kelli) Morgan, Carter (Abbie) Morgan, Kody Lenhart, Abbigail Lenhart, Wyatt (Katelyn) Lenhart, Natalie (fianc Garrett) Lenhart, Hudson Lenhart and Emma (Craig) Denton; and his great grandchildren Taylor & Keaton Romanello, Rory & Adler Morgan, Noah Morgan and Gus Denton. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Hugh, his wife Marcia and granddaughter Emma Rose Lenhart. Doyne walked closely with God throughout his life and was blessed to experience great things on this earth. Born and raised on a family farm, he built a strong work ethic through farming, livestock, 4H and FFA in school. His teenage responsibility of keeping the lots mowed, turned the purchase of a few sheep to maintain the pasture into his lifelong love of the sheep industry. As he furthered his education at Purdue University, he graduated in 1956 with an Animal Husbandry degree, learned to shear sheep and call square dances to pay for his and Marcias final two years at Purdue. ROTC in college led to a rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and 7.5 years in the Reserves.

The sheep business led to several jobs including a 2-year stint as the Shepherd for Kansas State University and attending Reisch Auction School in 1963. The purebred sheep auctions allowed him to sell in 11 states and build his reputation as an auctioneer. After running a livestock market in Paris, IL for 2 years he moved the family to Georgetown to work on the family farm and expand the auction business. Doyne and Marcia built a successful auction business, conducting 100 auctions a year for many years, simultaneously farming 450 acres as well as raising 200 head of sheep and 75 head of dairy goats. He purchased the Independent News weekly newspaper and exploded the circulation of 1750 to over 17,500 delivered each week. He opened a second Real Estate office and was on the Vermilion County Farm Bureau Board for 12 years. He was adamant about learning new things to better his business. He became a member of the Illinois, Indiana and National Auctioneers Associations. He regularly attended the annual conventions to learn and then later to teach continuing education at the Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and National conventions. He was a past President of the Illinois Auctioneers Association and inducted into the Indiana and Illinois Auctioneers Halls of Fame. In his 51 years as an auctioneer, he saw enormous changes in the industry from selling with a clerk/cashier who knew everyones name, to using bidder numbers, auction trucks and trailers to learning new trends and implementing them into his businesses. He computerized his auction business in 1990 and moved the auction method of marketing to online auctions a decade before Covid forced the auction world to change. In 2016, shortly after retirement, he wrote a book about his memoirs, "Hogs, Sheep and Auctions or 51 Years as an Auctioneer". Proceeds from the sale of his book were given to his favorite charity, St. Judes Childrens Hospital. He also posted a weekly Facebook story about sheep or the auction business. In his later years, he continued to help the auction company every week by sorting tools in garages, open houses & pickups. He touched the life of everyone he met and worked with, always generous with his teaching and storytelling. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and his worldwide Facebook family. Doyne led a full life hand in hand with God.

A visitation will be held on Monday, July 29, 2024 from 5-7 pm at Sunset Funeral Home's Houghton-Leasure Chapel, located at 200 E. West Street in Georgetown. A funeral service celebrating his life will take place on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 10 am, also at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest next to Marcia at Georgetown Cemetery following the services. Online condolences and fond memories can be shared with Doyne's family on his Tribute Wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Services Visitation Monday July 29, 2024 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Sunset's Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel 200 E. West Street Georgetown, , IL 61846 Funeral Service Tuesday July 30, 2024 10:00 AM Sunset's Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel 200 E. West Street Georgetown, , IL 61846