Lester "Jack" L Bechtel Obituary (1918

In Memory Of Lester "Jack" L. Bechtel A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 15, 2013, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cordova, with Rev. Nile Buch officiating. Interment will be in Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln with military services conducted by: Beaver Crossing American Legion Holmes Post #178. Visitation will be Thursday, noon - 9 pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Beaver Crossing, with the family greeting relatives and friends from 5-7pm and one hour prior to the service at church on Friday. Memorials have been established to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church or donor's choice. Pianist, Amy Emshoff, will accompany the congregation as they sing "Beyond the Sunset" and "The Old Rugged Cross". Pallbearers are his grandchildren: Brad, Brian, Justin, Grant, Aaron, Kennedy, and Madison Bechtel. Lester "Jack" L. Bechtel was born on November 7, 1918 to Howard and Zata (Smith) Bechtel on a farm near Madrid, Nebraska, the 4th of six children, and passed away, Monday, November 11, 2013, at the Fairview Manor in Fairmont, at the age of 95 years and 4 days. He graduated from Grant High School (now: Perkins County High School) in Grant, Nebraska with the class of 1938. After graduation, Jack worked as a blacksmith. He was united in marriage to Ruth D. Vonderfecht at Holyoke, Colorado on September 1, 1939 and to this union a son, Larry, was born. On July 25, 1944, he joined the US Army in Denver, Colorado, served during WWII in the European Theatre with the 9th Armored Division and was discharged in January of 1946 at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Returning from the service, Jack began a long career as an electrician, starting in Grant on the GI Bill. In those early years, he helped install electricity and bring the first electrical service to the farms in this area. He later moved to North Platte and Lincoln where he became involved in larger commercial projects. After retiring from active employment, he continued working as a "handyman"; assisting many in the Lincoln area. Jack spent many hours in his shop enjoying working with his hands making many different projects, from fabrication of tools, to woodworking, to designing art items to share with his family. He recently moved to the Beaver Crossing area to be near his son. Jack was a member of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cordova and a former member of the Southern Heights Presbyterian Church in Lincoln. He was also a member of the Beaver Crossing American Legion Holmes Post #178. He was hardworking, dedicated and enjoyed a simple straightforward life. He was committed to his family, his career, his faith and patriotism to his country. Jack carried a medallion in his pocket every day on which was engraved: "My precious child. I love you and would never leave you. When you see only one set of footprints in the sand. It was then that I carried you." He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Marilyn Bechtel, Beaver Crossing, three grandsons and spouses, Brad and Dawna Bechtel, Wichita, KS, Brian and Sheri Bechtel, Kansas City, MO, Justin and Ashley Bechtel, Lexington, KY, great-grandchildren, brother and sister-in-law, Guy and Bonnie Bechtel, Ogallala, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ray and Jeanne Vonderfecht, Kansas City, MO, Harold and Barb Vonderfecht, Plattsmouth, NE, many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Ruth, in 2001, brothers, Arthur and James Bechtel, sisters, Isabel Bolton and Helen Hetrick.