William Norman "Bud" Lechner, age 83, of Washington, Iowa, died Thursday, July 19, 2012, at the Maplewood Manor in Keota, Iowa, after failing in health for some time.
Visitation begins at 12:00 noon Friday, August 10, 2012, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday evening. Private family burial will take place at a later date. Memorials have been established to Paws and More Animal Shelter in Washington. Online condolences may be sent for Bud's family through the web at
www.jonesfh.com
.
William Norman "Bud" Lechner was born September 24, 1928, in Kirksville, Missouri, the son of John Henry and Beulah (Courtney) Lechner. He was raised in Brighton, Iowa, graduated from Brighton High School in 1945, and attended the University of Iowa for one year. Bud was united in marriage to Patricia Jean Flynn on November 9, 1947, in Washington, Iowa.
Bud had been a resident of Washington his entire adult life. He worked for several employers before purchasing the Gambles Store in Washington. The store would later become Lechner's Ace Hardware and Gifts which he operated for a number of years until his retirement. Bud loved fishing and even at 80 years of age was still pulling the boat to Riverside, Columbus Junction or Wapello to spend the day on the river. Bud had a special way with animals, most notably Pete the Crow and Maggie the Cat. He enjoyed auctions and antiquing, and he and his wife Pat had operated antique booths in Washington and in Branson, Missouri. Bud and Pat had also enjoyed wintering in Livingston, Texas, which allowed him to fish year round.
Bud is survived by son John Lechner and wife Debbie of Kirksville, Missouri; daughter Mary Christine Ajzenmen and husband Paul of Dallas, Texas; daughter Mary Patricia Watson and husband Terry of Sandy, Utah; daughter Clare Anne Isaacson and husband Treg of Seattle, Washington; daughter Sara Joan Witt and husband Jack of Covington, Michigan; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his aunt Ferne Hoefer of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Pat in 2005.