Leon J. Bechtel 1908-1995

BECHTEL, WIRTH, LEHMAN, GRUBER, LEPPERT

Posted By: Paul Moritz (deceased)
Date: 11/17/2010 at 09:30:46

Leon J. Bechtel, 86, of LaCrosse, WI died of bone cancer Tuesday, April 11, 1995 in Hillview Health Care Center in LaCrosse.
He was born May 31, 1908 in Church, rural Lansing, to Joseph and Emma (Wirth) Bechtel. He attended school in rural Lansing while working on his parent's farm.
Leon and Helen Lehman were married Sept. 1, 1937 in Bush Valley, rural Houston County, MN. She died in 1987.
He organized and directed a dance orchestra. As a young man he moved to LaCrosse and while working days, attended night school and earned a high school diploma.
Leon worked for Allis Chalmers at the outset of World War II and retired as a management supervisor in 1965.
In retirement he continued to give piano and organ lessons, played in local dance orchestras, did church organ work and studied nursing.
He became a licensed practical nurse, and his career in nursing spanned 26 years at Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse.
Surviving are two sons, Donald of Baraboo, WI, and Dennis of Rochester, MN; a granddaughter; two sisters, Selma Gruber and Florence Leppert, and a brother Frank, all of Waukon.
Funeral services were held Thursday, April 13, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, LaCrosse, with the Rev. Steven Staude officiating. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery, LaCrosse. Dickinson Family Funeral Hone was in charge of arrangements.

Allamakee Journal, Lansing, IA - April 25, 1995, page 7