Lechtenberg, Fredrick 1858-1940 & Bernadine Hoefler Family

LECHTENBERG, HOEFLER, HONKOMP, SCHAEFER

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg -volunteer (email)
Date: 4/9/2026 at 10:48:23

Lechtenberg, Fredrick 1858-1940 and Bernadine Hoefler Family

This biography of the Fredrick Lechtenberg family was taken from a family story in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church book of Granville Iowa page 138. It was further researched and composed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

The full narrative including additions to the church book story were made from various sources including records from the web site www.iagenweb.org/sioux; family reports and vitals collected from ancestry.com records and ancestry’s public member trees, Find A Grave index, internet searches and various local archives.

Disclaimer: Names, dates and places may vary from one source to another, but have been stated in this biography as presented in the source. Family data taken from ancestry.com public member trees is subject to the submitter of data to ancestry.com and was not fully verified by this submitter.

Fredrick Lechtenberg family story from the St. Joseph’s church book page 138.

Fredrick Lechtenburg and Bernadine Hoefler both were born at New Vienna, Iowa. They were married February 9, 1886 in New Vienna and shortly after came to Sioux County where they were early pioneer settlers near Granville, Iowa. They purchased land from Henry Pottebaum and resided there until 1930 when they retired and moved into the town of Granville. They were the parents of eleven children, one passed away in early childhood.
Joseph 1887-1957; Victor 1889-1959; Mathilda List 1890-1973; Justine Gorman 1892-1980; Amelia Pierre 1894-lives in Sioux City; Cletus 1898-1965;Hugo 1900-1983; Agatha Stay 1902-1984; Loe 1903-1982; Raymond 1905 – lives in California;
Fredrick passed away on February 16 1940 and Beradine passed away on September 24, 1943. (End of the story from the St. Joseph’s church book)

RESEARCH Notes: From Find A Grave, ancestry.com public member trees and local archives on this page.

Frederick Leo Lechtenberg was born 14 Jul 1858 New Vienna, Dubuque IA died 16 Feb 1940 Granville, Sioux Iowa. His parents were Joseph Lechtenberg born 8 Dec 1816 Munster, Nordrhein Westfalen, Germany died 28 Sep 1899 New Vienna, Iowa: and Caroline Honkomp born 22 Jul 1829 Handorf, Oldenburg, Germany died 9 Feb 1896 New Vienna, Iowa. Frederick married Bernadine Maria Hoefler 1883.

Bernardine Maria Hoefler was born 20 Apr 1865 New Vienna Iowa, died 24 Dec 1943 Granville Iowa. Her parents were Johan Gerhard Hoefler born 5 Apr 1826 Hannover, Niederschsen, Germany, died 28 May 1875 New Vienna, Iowa.; and Clara Schaefer 1831-1910 Dubuque Co. IA . Bernadine married Fred Lechtenberg 1883. They were the parents of eleven children:

CHILDREN: One died in infancy.

1. Joseph J. Lechtenberg born1886 died 25 Nov 1957 buried Holy Sepulchre Cem. Omaha, NE. He married Anna K. Wittrock 1896-1993. Children Agatha Lechtenberg Baumert 1934-2014, and Victor J. Lechtenberg 1925-2016.

2. Victor Lechtenberg born 5 Mar 1889-1959 died 19 Feb 1959 Portland, Multnomah Co OR. His spouses were Ruth Zink 1897-1918 m. in 1916; and Katherine Mary Muehl 1890-1984. Children Ruth Amelia Lechtenberg Deming 1918-2006, Bernice Kathryn Lechtenberg Morris 1920-2006, Marian Irene Lechtenbert Walker 1921-2002, Lillian Margaret Lechtenberg Mancini 1924-2010, Inez Ann Lechtenberg Paxton 1925-2013, Robert G. Lechtenberg 1927-1986, William Joseph Lechtenberg 1930-2015.

3. Mathilda Lechtenberg List born 13 Nov 1890 IA died 29 Apr 1973 Riverside Co. CA. She married Theodore Sebastian List in 1913. No children listed on Find a Grave.

4. Justine Lechtenberg Gorman born 19 Mary 1892 IA died 10 Apr 1981 Marion County, OR. She married Patrick Cornelius Gorman 1888-1974. Their children were Robert Patrick Gorman 1918-2002, Edward Cornelius Gorman 1919-2001, Richard F. Gorman 1921-1989, Wilbur F. Gorman 1923-1972, Patricia A. Gorman Bender 1926-2004 and Eleanor B. Gorman Hall Schwindt 1933-2018.

5. Amelia Lechtenberg Pierre 1894 – died 23, Nov 1988 Sioux City IA. She married John Pierre 1928 in Granville. Children Ray Pierre of Sioux City; two daughters Mrs. Robert ‘Darlene’ Stusse of Lawton, IA and Mrs. Herry ‘Marcele’ Newman of Sioux city. Source Sioux City Journal

6. Linus Lechtenberg born 11 Sep 1896 IA died 9 Jan 1898 IA buried St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA

7. Cletus Lechtenberg born 20 Sep 1898 IA died 21 mar 1965 Huntington Park L A CA. No children listed on Find A Grave.

8. Hugo Bernard Lechtenberg born 29 Mar 1900 IA died Apr 1983 Granville, IA buried St. Joseph’s cemetery. He married Martha Johanna Goebel 1904-2001. No children listed on FG.

9. Agatha Lechtenberg Stay born 19 Dec1902 Granville IA died 5 Jul 1984 Lynwood, Los Angeles CA. She married Ivan George Stay 1902-1963 married in 1934. No children Listed FG

10. Leo Lechtenberg born 15 Jul 1903 Sioux County IA died 25 Nov 1982 Granville IA buried St. Joseph’s cemetery. He married Cleopha Clar ‘Cleo’ Tritz 1906-2008. Children Merlin Frederick Lechtenberg 1930-1961, Norma JeanLechtenberg Schuster 1932-2023, Daniel Lee Lechtenberg 1933-1978

11. Raymond George Lechtenberg born 7 Oct 1905 IA died 4 Mar 1995 Los Angeles, CA . No spouse or children listed

OBITUARY of Fred Lechtenberg 1858-1940

Source: Alton Democrat (2-23-1940) Born: July 14, 1858 Died: February 16, 1940
FRED LECHTENBERG GONE; WAS PIONEER GRANVILLE RESIDENT Frederick Lechtenberg, prominent Granville resident for the pass 50 years, passed away at his home on Thursday, February 16, at the age of 81 years and seven months following a lingering illness.
Mr. Lechtenberg was born to Joseph and Caroline (Honkomp) Lechtenberg on July 14, 1858, at New Vienna and was married there to Bernadine Hoefler on February 9, 1886 with the Reverend W. Pape officiating.
Deceased was a successful farmer of the community for many years. Ten years ago he and Mrs. Lechtenberg retired from active farming, shifting the responsibility to their son Leo, who now operates the home farm.
In his passing, the bereaved family loses a loving husband and father, and the community, one of its most loyal and creditable citizens. The union was blessed with 11 children, one dying in infancy. He is survived by his widow and the following children: Joe of Petersburg, Nebraska; Victor of Gresham, Washington; Justine (Mrs. P.E. Gorman) of Salem, Oregon; Milly (Mrs. John Pierre) of Kingsley; Agatha (Mrs. Ivan Stay), Huntington Park, California; Mathilda (Mrs. T.S. List), Baltimore, Maryland; Ray of Los Angeles, California; Cletus, Leo, and Hugo of Granville. Thirty grandchildren also mourn his loss.
Mr. and Mrs. Lechtenberg moved to Granville in 1886, coming here from New Vienna and settled on a farm northwest of town where they lived for 45 years.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock at St. Joseph’s Church, conducted by Reverend J. Hageman of Petersburg, Nebraska, nephew of deceased. The Reverend J.A. Gereman had charge of services at the cemetery. Pallbearers were Bert Schnurr, Sr., Nic Burlage, Frank Goergen, William Niichel, Henry Bernard and Barney Bueltel.

OBITUARY of Bernardine Mrs. Fred Lectenberg 1865-1943

Source: Alton Democrat (9-30-1943) Born: April 20, 1865 Died: September 24, 1943
Funeral services were held on St. Joseph’s Church, Granville, Monday morning at 8:30 for Mrs. Fred Lechtenberg, who passed away on Friday, September 24.
Bernardine Hoefler was born at New Vienna, Iowa on April 20, 1896, the daughter of J. Gerhard and Clara (Schaefer) Hoefler. She was married to Fred Lechtenberg on February 9, 1886 and they came by rail to Marcus then by wagon to Granville and settled on the farm now operated by their son, Leo, who took over the farming on the home place when Mr. and Mrs. Lechtenberg retired and moved to town. Mr. Lechtenberg passed away on February 16, 1940.
Ten children survive, namely: Joe of Petersburg, Nebraska; Victor of Portland, Oregon; Justine, Mrs. Pat Gorman of Salem, Oregon; Mathilda, Mrs. E.S. List, Agatha, Mrs. Ivan Stay and Ray, all of Los Angeles, California; Millie, Mrs. John Pierre of Kingsley; Hugo, Cletus and Leo of Granville. She is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Trencamp of Dyersville, and a brother Barney Hoefler of Granville.
Relatives from a distance attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Stay and Mrs. T.S. List of Los Angeles.

If anyone has an early family story to add to this BIOS please contact this page’s coordinator.

Picture is from page 138 of the St. Joseph’s church book.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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