Kenneth M. Lechner
Kenneth M. Lechner, 67, of Seneca, Kansas, died south of Seneca, Kansas,
Monday, October 14, 2002.
He
was born March 31, 1935, on a farm southwest of Nebraska City, Nebraska,
the son of Tate and Agnes Kuhlman Lechner. When he was three months
old, his mother died. His grandparents, Henry and Christina Fischer
Hermesch east of Kelly, Kansas, raised him. He attended St. Bede's School
at Kelly and helped on the farm. Later he earned a G.E.D.
Kenny farmed the Hermesch homestead east
of Kelly before his marriage. On May 14, 1956, he married Bernita "Bea"
Stegeman at Wheaton, Kansas. She survives of the home. They lived and
farmed in the Kelly area and moved into Seneca in 1987. Kenny was employed
at Skillet Ready Mix at Centralia, Lortscher Agri Service and Metzger's
Dairy at Oneida, and for Seneca Ready Mix and Seneca Fertilizer. He
had also worked part-time at the Kramer Liquor Store and the Pony Express
Liquor Store.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul
Church, the St. Joseph Society at the church, and a former member of
St. Bede's Church. He was an umpire for the Kelly Baseball League. Kenny
enjoyed bowling and playing cards.
Survivors besides his wife, Bea, are five daughters,
Deb Christian of Hiawatha, KS, Connie Thorson and Karen Lechner, both
of Horton, KS, Kristina "Tina" Brinker of Shawnee, KS, and
Kimberly Henry of Goff; two brothers, Francis Lechner of Trenton, IL
and Leonard Lechner of Fremont, NE; four sisters, Larine Hespen and
Marie Koeppo, both of Nebraska City, and twins Elsie Hicks of Omaha
and Evelyn Rowe of Ragland, Alabama; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Katherine "Kathy"
Lechner on October 3, 1990.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10 A.M.
Saturday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in
St. Bede's Cemetery at Kelly. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer
Funeral Home in Seneca on Friday at 2 and 7 P.M.
Memorials may be given for St. Bede's Cemetery
or for Seneca's South Park and sent in care of the family.