Married Hilda Alt on November 18, 1931; she died on August 3, 1934. Married Leona Evelyn Ruhland on April 23, 1936; they had six children.

The Sparta Herald, May 14, 1984, obituary: Joseph John Lehner died early Wednesday morning, May 9, 1984 at Lutheran hospital, LaCrosse. He had reached the age of 86 years, 5 months and 17 days. Joseph was born in Plain, Wis. on November 22, 1897, the son of Bartel [Bartholomew "Bartl"] and Frances (Strum [STURM]) Lehner. On April 23, 1936 he was united in marriage to Leona Ruhland in St. Luke's Catholic church in Plain, Wis. They lived in New Lisbon, Wis. and he operated a saw mill in Lyndon Station. In 1937, they moved to Hustler, Wisconsin and in 1940 they moved to Norwalk. While living in Norwalk, Joseph operated the Lehner and Van Slyke Saw Mill until selling the mill in 1946. He then worked for the Hart Tie and Lumber Co. in Black River Falls as a buyer until his retirement in 1969. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Mrs. Margaret Bindl, Mrs. Anna Nachreiner, Mrs. Mary Ringelstetter and Mrs. Elizabeth Brei; two brothers, Alois and John Lehner. Surviving are his wife, Leona; two daughters, Mrs. Francis (Evelyn) Sullivan, Norwalk; Mrs. Gerald (Carolyn) O'Gara, New Richmond, Wis; four sons, Eugene, Mound, Minn; George, Grosse Ile, Michigan; James of Norwalk; Michael, St. Paul, Minn; twelve grandchildren, one great granddaughter, one sister, Mrs. Katherine Prem, Plain, Wisconsin. The funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 1984 at St. Augustine's Catholic church, Norwalk with Rev. William Buchman officiating. Mrs. Mary Schwarz played the organ and the St. Augustine's adult choir sang selected hymns. Mrs. Susan Lehner also sang a solo hymn. Burial was in the church cemetery with the following servicing as pall bears; Andrew Prem, Patrick Dischler, Leo Bindl, Paul Durst, Tony Prem, Edward Prem and Joseph Schmitz all nephews. The Page Smith funeral home was in charge of arrangements.