David Reuben Lehr

David Reuben Lehr, 80, of North Barrington, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2026. He was born on October 31, 1945 and spent his childhood in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Dave graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1967 with a triple major in chemistry, physics, and biology.

Dave started as a chemist with Koppers in Pittsburg, then moved with Koppers to Chicago. In 1972, he launched his entrepreneurial career that included a fiberglass molding company, selling bulk chemicals, residential real estate brokerage, and ultimately establishing Lehr & Associates, Inc., a commercial real estate brokerage, property management, and construction firm. Dave successfully filed two patents with Zenith, and he earned multiple commercial real estate certifications, including CCIM, CPM, and CMCA.

He was always proud that from 1972, he only received paychecks from his own companies. Dave loved telling jokes and stories to make people laugh! He also loved music, cooking, gambling, hunting, fishing, and golfing. He starred as Harold Hill in The Music Man, and he sang with the Varsity Bards at the University of North Dakota. He was a gifted musician playing the piano, organ, and trumpet.

He developed a love for cooking from his mother and relished making his famous ribs, lamb chops, barbecue beans, and chili for friends and family. On special occasions, he would bake his mother’s famous cinnamon rolls with his children and grandchildren. Dave was always happiest hosting family and friends in his home and trying new recipes.

He became a charter member at Wynstone Golf Club in 1987 and savored every round, especially shooting a 72 in a Club Championship and his Hole-in- One on the 7 th hole. Dave delighted in traveling with Nancy, gambling on sports, playing video poker, and fishing and pheasant hunting on trips with his friends.

David is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Russell; his son Michael (Tina) Lehr; his daughter Carrie (Charlie) Dunlap; his stepchildren, Bill (Leah) Russell, Katie (Chris) Mack, David (Melissa) Russell and John Russell; and his beautiful grandchildren Jacob and Kevin Lehr, Jackson and Sierra Dunlap, Jack and Maggie Mack; his brother Paul Lehr; his brother-in-law Howard Fisher; and his cousin Gary Lehr.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Reuben and Ida Lehr; brother Jim Lehr and his wife Barbara; and sister Karen Benner and her husband George.

A visitation and service for Dave will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 11:00 AM until the memorial service at 1:00 PM at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 941 South Old Rand Road, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. 

A Celebration of Life will be hosted at The Club at Wynstone immediately following the memorial service at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, the ALS Association, www.als.org, and the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.