Kenneth Oliver Leemon proudly in his Lions colours in December.
By Shaun Inguanzo
COMMUNITY hero Ken Leemon has died suddenly, aged 79.
Mr Leemon’s death has sent shockwaves throughout the Dandenong and Cranbourne communities, where he was a volunteer with several service organisations including Lions and the RSL.
Mr Leemon was also the standing president of the Cranbourne branch of the Liberal Party.
His wife, Betty, told Star that Mr Leemon was feeling unwell on Monday, 28 May and consulted his general practitioner.
Unbeknownst to Mr Leemon, he was suffering a heart attack, and was rushed to Peninsula Hospital on Tuesday, 29 May after test results revealed his condition.
Mrs Leemon said Mr Leemon was chatty the Tuesday night and the thought of death did not cross her mind.
The couple was due to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary on 10 June.
But on Wednesday, 30 May at 7.20am, Mr Leemon died unexpectedly, leaving his family and community in mourning.
Mr Leemon was born on 11 January 1928 in the rural town of Wonthaggi.
He attended school in Archie’s Creek while growing up on his parents’ Leongatha farm.
Mr Leemon was a keen worker and after his first job in a grocery store he entered the dry cleaning industry.
In 1956 he joined Victoria Police and worked as an officer in Oakleigh, Springvale, Dandenong, Echuca and at the emergency call centre formerly known as D24.
Mr and Mrs Leemon had three girls, now all married – Jan Carmody, Lyne Cahill and Sue McNamara.
Mr Leemon was approaching 40 years of service to the Lions organisation, most of those years spent at the Dandenong branch.
He was passionate about the Lions cause and in recognition of his service was made a Melvin Jones Fellow.
Lions Club of Dandenong president Sue Hird said Mr Leemon was an inspirational member whose role as club historian, and Lions role model, would be sorely missed.
She said she had also lost a dear friend.
“What I liked about Ken was that he could separate Lions from real life,” she said.
“We might have a professional run-in about Lions and five minutes later we would be having a coffee, and there were no ill feelings.
“He was a good friend and we had some terrific social times together.”
Mrs Leemon, 79, said her husband was a proud Carlton Football Club supporter and dedicated most of his life to helping others through the Cranbourne RSL and Lions Club of Dandenong.
“We both thought, and Ken in particular, that (life) was going to go on forever,” she said.
“He said he’d live ‘til 96 – the age his mother died.
“We used to joke about it and say to each other ‘take it easy or you won’t make it’.”
Mrs Leemon said Mr Leemon was a very busy man who had a quirky habit of losing his glasses as a result.
“I would find them, and I’m sure he thought I’d planted them somewhere so I could find them before him,” she said with a laugh.
But his committed attitude meant her husband “put his heart and soul” into whatever he did.
“And he did a darn good job at whatever he did,” she said proudly.
A service for Mr Leemon was held at the Salvation Army Community Church in New Holland Drive, Cranbourne.
He was later buried at Cranbourne Cemetery.
