Samuel “Sam” Lemon

November 5, 1959 - November 8, 2025

Samuel Stephen Lemon of Denver, Colorado passed away on November 8, 2025, after fighting cancer for several years.  He will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a kind and thoughtful soul, whose gentle humor, generous spirit, and love for teaching touched the hearts of everyone who knew him.

Sam loved to travel, he was a gamer, and an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.  He enjoyed car shows, and owning sporty convertibles and keeping them in immaculate shape.  His love of dogs was evident as he had 3 dogs (Ky, LJ & Sadee) with Delette during their married life.

Sam was born on November 5, 1959, in St. Joseph, Missouri.  Sam moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota with his family after living in Missouri and Kansas.  He attended and graduated from Red River High School, where he participated in many theatre productions. He sang “Get Me to the Church on Time” from My Fair Lady in one of the shows. After receiving the Mortimer Bentson Theatre Arts Scholarship from the University of North Dakota, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts.  In 1989, he earned his Minnesota elementary teaching license from Augsburg College.

His professional career began in advertising at Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon and Eckhart Advertising.  He then worked as a management paraprofessional with Minnetonka Public Schools.  In 1991, he began his teaching career at Park Brook Elementary in Osseo, Minnesota.  After 20 years of teaching 6th grade, Sam began working for First Student Transportation Corporation where he started as a driver, then District Trainer, and retired as Safety Manager.

Sam married Delette Zimmerman on December 28th, 1981, and they spent 44 years together. He was a devoted husband, son and brother.  Sam also cherished his brother and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Sam is survived by his wife, Delette; mother, Ann Lemon; sisters, Gloria Rose (Jerry) and Jacqueline Talavera (Edgardo); and brother and sister-in-law, Delore and Sonia Zimmerman. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Donald K. Lemon, and his grandparents.  
Sam’s life will be celebrated in several locations this coming year, including Denver, Colorado, Wichita, Kansas and Minnesota.

Donations

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
Colorado Blood Cancer Institute 
1721 E. 19th Avenue, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80218

Photos of Sam