Dr. John von Lehe lost his heroic battle with cancer early Monday morning. He died peacefully with his loving wife at his side at the Hospice of Charleston in Mt. Pleasant. He was 48. Dr. von Lehe was born in Walterboro June 27, 1961. He was the son of Dr. and Mrs. A. Charles von Lehe (Catherine). He graduated from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, in 1984 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Computer Science. Dr. von Lehe attended The Citadel on a wrestling scholarship. As a cadet, Dr. von Lehe received the Dean’s List award, the Distinguished Military Student award, the Distinguished Military Graduate Award, was a cadet officer, and was co-captain of the wrestling team his senior year. After graduation, he served on active duty for three years in the United States Army in Germany. At the time of his passing, he was a Lt. Colonel in the SC Army National Guard through which he was deployed as a medical officer to Iraq in 2004 and to Afghanistan in 2008. In 1989, Dr. von Lehe graduated from The University of South Carolina School of Law with a Juris Doctor Degree. He helped to establish, and eventually served as vice-chairman, of the school’s Pro Bono Board. He had a private law practice in Mt Pleasant from 1990 until 1996. While he was achieving success with his law practice, Dr. von Lehe yearned to practice medicine like his late father and grandfather. He graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2000 with his Doctor of Medicine Degree and completed his family medicine residency in 2002. Dr. von Lehe practiced medicine at East Cooper Family practice since 2002, and in 2009, became part of the Roper St. Francis Physicians Partner Network, where he served on the Networks council. He was the attending physician and medical director for Mt. Pleasant Manor, Grace Hall Assisted Living Facility, the Palms, and Carolina Hospice Care. Dr. von Lehe was on the medical staff at both Roper St. Francis Healthcare and East Cooper Regional Medical Center, the latter at which he had served as Chairman of the Medical Executive Committee. He was a member of Stella Maris Catholic Church, and coached soccer for the youth of Mt. Pleasant. John was a wonderful husband, father, and community leader. Dr. von Lehe touched so many lives in very positive ways. He was proud to serve his country in his military role. Often described as a “man’s man,”, he loved life and the Lowcountry and was an avid outdoorsman. But to Dr. von Lehe, the most important thing in life was his family. He was deeply devoted to his wife of 25 years and their four children. He will be missed by so very many. In addition to his wife Andrea Howard von Lehe, and his mother Catherine von Lehe, he leaves behind his children, Christopher 19, Charlie 18, Reagin 8, and Kinsey 6. There are three brothers, Quinlan von Lehe, and his wife Joan, of Cullman, AL; Charles von Lehe, and wife Tammy, of Walterboro; and Michael von Lehe, and wife Lin, of Gainesville, FL. Dr. von Lehe has a sister-in-law Terry Howard Johnston, and her husband, Col. Nick Johnston, of Hickman Air Force Base, HI. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday morning at 11:00 at Summerall Chapel on the campus of The Citadel. The final Commendation and Farewell will be held that afternoon at 3:00 in the Live Oak Cemetery in Walterboro. A Vigil for the Deceased, with reception at the church, will also be held at Summerall Chapel Wednesday evening from 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the John von Lehe Memorial Trust, 1655 B. Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407 or to the Hospice Center of Charleston Foundation, 676 Wando Park Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.parkerrhodenfuneralhome.com. Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul Street, Walterboro, SC is in charge of arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths. Tags: 1984
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