Tratchel, Lee K. 1957-2006

TRATCHEL, MILLER, SAMSON

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/31/2006 at 19:44:38

GALESBURG — Lee K. Tratchel, 49, of Galesburg died Thursday, June 22, 2006, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

A private family graveside service is planned with the Rev. Gary Marzolf of First United Methodist Church in Newton officiating. Burial will be at Hewitt Cemetery. Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton is handling arrangements.

The family will greet friends from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials will be accepted in his name and may be left at the funeral home.
The son of Leland and Dorothy (Miller) Tratchel, he was born May 26, 1957, in Newton. He graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1975 and received an associate's degree from Des Moines Area Community College in 1977.

In 1996, he married Mary A. Samson in Killduff. He worked for Pella Corporation for 18 years prior to going into business for himself, making ornamental concrete figurines for lawns for Tratchel's Backyard Gardens. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and family and enjoyed being outdoors.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter and son-in-law, Lea and Russell Ladehoff of Bayard; two step-daughters and a son-in-law, Michelle Winters of Newton and Jennifer and Eric Swank of Reasnor; five grandchildren; two brothers, Carl Tratchel of Waterloo and Jack Tratchel of Iowa City; and his mother of Killduff.

He was preceded in death by his father and maternal and paternal grandparents.

The Newton Daily News, Friday, June 23, 2006