Remembering Three Amazing Volunteers

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The Motor Mill Foundation lost three amazing board members in 2023, John Nikolai, Jon deNeui and Lee Lenth. These three volunteers were passionate supporters and champions of Motor Mill Historic Site, working tirelessly to bring it back to its former glory. The shoes they leave behind will be hard to fill.

Jon deNeui

Early member of the Motor Mill Foundation since 2003, Jon passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023.
Vice President from 2006-2019, his passion for restoring historic buildings led him to Motor Mill where his vast knowledge of construction and restoration were invaluable to begin restoring the Mill and other buildings. 
Everyone looked to Jon for leadership on projects due to his background teaching Rural Building Construction at Kirkwood. Jon and his wife Pat moved to Clayton County when he retired and his love of restoring old buildings made him the natural fit as honorary site engineer at the Mill. Considered a “visionary” by the foundation members, much of the restoration projects at the site were the result of his amazing visioning, plans, and direction. Two of his biggest achievements were his plan to bring the huge gap in the peak of the roof closed and after years of planning, a new bridge in 2012. Jon enjoyed sharing his knowledge and wisdom and telling stories. Jon’s hearty laugh and rumbling baritone voice will be greatly missed by those at Motor Mill.

Jon deNeui Obituary

Lee Lenth

Lee Lenth, Foundation Member since 2006, passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Born January 15, 1938, Lee enjoyed growing up on his family farm. He served with the 101st Airborne Arterial Unit for two years. Lee and his wife Verna moved back to his families farm in the Communia and Littleport area in 1975. An avid craftsman, Lee dedicated many hours to the Motor Mill Foundation. Most recently he completed the basement platform so visitors could view the location of the turbines unearthed in the 2020 sediment removal project. Lee was an amazing carpenter who could often be found at the mill working on specialty projects. Lee was a kind and compassionate soul, always bringing a smile to those he greeted, entertaining others with his knowledge and stories, and endowing all those who knew him with happy memories. Remembered for his generosity of spirit, he will be greatly missed.

Lee Lenth Obituary

John Nikolai

John was was a founding member of the Motor Mill Advisory Committee established in 2002, and served as President of the Motor Mill Foundation until his death. John and his wife, Mary Fran, retired to Clayton County from Chicago in  1997. His love of preservation and historic stone structures led him take an interest in Motor Mill Historic Site in the hope of restoring it by advocating for the care and dedication it deserved. John was tireless in his efforts to help shape and improve the restoration of  Motor Mill Historic Site. He had a passion for architecture and economic development. He was quick to research an idea and come up with a plan to keep projects moving forward. A dedicated volunteer and leader, he was involved with many local organizations including the Clayton County Historic Preservation Commission, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and he coordinated the Stone Structures inventory of Clayton County. John leaves behind an impressive legacy.

John Nikolai Obituary

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