Lester (Gene) Moherman

Lester Eugene (Gene) Moherman, 84, of Manhattan, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2025. He was born on May 11, 1941, in Emporia, Kansas, to Lester and Annetta Moherman. His family moved to Manhattan when he was just four years old, where he spent the majority of his life.

Gene met the love of his life, Shirley Dee Thompson, when she stopped into his Aggieville gas station in early 1962 to get her car serviced. Shirley was working at K-State, and the story goes that after she dropped her car off that day and walked across the street to campus, his eyes followed her until she was out of sight. Gene and Shirley married in Almena, KS on June 23, 1963, and shared almost 62 years of life together. They had three beautiful daughters, Jodi, Holli, and Lesli, and throughout their lives they also shared the love of numerous pets, most recently Willie and Mollie. They loved to go for Sunday drives, enjoyed many wonderful weekends out in their pontoon boat, and were avid KSU football fans. They loved spending time with family and friends, whether at family reunions in Wellsville or Almena, or on their back deck with Gene's famous ribs (made with his homemade barbeque sauce) and Shirley's delicious meringue pies.

Gene's sharp intellect and keen eye for detail propelled him to the top of his field in contract glass. Over the course of his career, he successfully secured bids for major facilities such as the Denver International Airport, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, OK, as well as numerous buildings around Manhattan and in the state of Kansas, including Phase 1 & 2 of Bill Snyder Stadium, Junction City High School, and the KSU School of Business. He dedicated his life's work to the glass industry, as an estimator for Harding Glass, with roles in Manhattan, KS; Joplin and Springfield, MO; and Denver, CO. After relocating to Manhattan, KS, he joined Manko Window Systems in 2003, ultimately rising to the position of Senior Contract Estimator. Gene's meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to excellence left a lasting mark on the industry.

Gene was known for his kind and generous spirit, his sense of humor, his love for family, and his unwavering work ethic. Outside of his professional life, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially when hunting or fishing. As someone who loved sharing stories and had a wealth of knowledge on most any subject, Gene never met a stranger - he loved to know where people were from and could easily make connections with everyone he met. He was deeply respected by friends and colleagues alike, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

A beloved husband, dad, and papa, Gene is survived by his devoted wife, Shirley; daughters Jodi (Todd) Boyd of Topeka, Holli Moherman of Wichita, and Lesli Hammang of Thornton, CO; his grandchildren, Hayley, Abby, Max, and Will; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, classmates, friends, and a sister. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law, John Hammang.

The family will greet friends during a visitation on Tuesday, May 20th from 6-7:30pm at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 21st at 10am at the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Graveside services to follow at Sunrise Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in memory of Gene to the Good Shepherd Hospice House or to the First Presbyterian Church Moherman Family Memorial Fund in care of Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com