Wm.
Allan Lechner
Visitation will be held at Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m.
followed by the rosary at 7p.m.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Island. The Reverends Todd Philipsen and Mark Maresh will officiate.
All Faiths Funeral Home is serving the family.
As a final gift to his fellow man, Allan has donated his body to science; therefore there will be no burial after the service.
Allan was born on September 28, 1951 to Teddy and Imogene (Neumann), Lechner in Grand Island, Nebraska.
He was preceded in death by his mother Imogene and brother, John.
Survivors include his loving wife, Marilyn; daughters, Lisa Lechner-Siedlik, son-in-law Scot, grand daughter Lauren and grandson Jackson of San Jose, CA., Gina Allen and son-in–law Jason, grandsons Austin and Dylan of Grand Island; his father, Teddy Lechner; sister Nita Lechner; brothers T.J. Lechner, Todd and Peggy Lechner all of Grand Island, and Roger and Kris Lechner of Columbus; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bill and Doris McLellan of Grand Island; brother-in-law and their spouses, Larry and Karen Berstler, Grand Island, and Rick and Mary Berstler of Tehachapi, CA., 9 nieces and 7 nephews and his beloved yellow lab, Gus.
Allan attended St. Mary’s grade school, Central Catholic, and graduated from Northwest High School in 1969. He attended both UNL and Kearney State.
Allan and Marilyn (Berstler), both of Grand Island, were married November 6, 1971 where they worked, resided and raised their two daughters.
Allan began his career in construction upon graduation in 1969. He continued as a commercial carpenter and foreman until 1995. This gave Allan his great appreciation and skill of carpentry. He spent many hours designing and crafting projects for friends and family. He was involved in the construction of numerous buildings in Grand Island including, Dreisbach’s, Blessed Sacrament, St. Leo’s, City Hall, and his own home West of Grand Island. Allan completed his dream home after being diagnosed with multiple-myeloma, an amazing task!
In 1995 he joined the Steamfitters Local Union # 464 and was a pipe fitter until 2005 when bad health forced him to retire.
He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church and served on the Parish Council for two terms. He was a member of the choir and taught 8th grade CCD for five years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Steamfitters Local # 464, and taught Hunters Safety for the State of Nebraska.
Allan participated in football, basketball, and track in high school and continued to be involved in numerous lifetime sports. From the time he was a child he was an avid fisherman and hunter. Allan spent many hours enjoying the outdoors, whether on a river bank, a dock, in a canoe or boat drowning worms. He loved sitting in the duck blind and hunted big game with both bow and rifle becoming a top marksman.
He felt great pride in being handed down the tradition of hunting from his elders, and in turn passed it down to his children, grandchildren, and all of those who were fortunate enough to spend time with him on a hunt. He spent hours instilling the value of nature and all of its beauty to others, especially his grandchildren. Allan saw beauty in everything while valuing and respecting the gifts he was given.
He loved to be outdoors planting or pruning his trees, or in the garden, especially at harvest time when he would share his prize vegetables, or just walking along the creek bank while paying attention to the God in all that surrounded him.
He had numerous creative outlets. He loved to invent new taste sensations in the kitchen and many were blessed to receive his special pies the last few years. His artistic ability, especially in the area of cartoons, brought enjoyment to all who knew him.
He loved his role of trickster in life! His humor surpassed most. He spent his life chuckling to himself at the funny things he would come up with relishing in the joy he brought to others. He liked to use his extensive vocabulary to befuddle and generally mess with family, “Look it up!” was a frequent phrase at the dinner table. His greatest joy came from living in the moment and being with friends or family.
Allan was a father to many and a role model to all. He was a rock of faith and wisdom and support to friends and family in times of need. He was a man of his word who lived in true integrity. Allan was a trusted friend and silent leader to those who knew him. Valued in life, missed forever to those whose lives he touched.
We take this opportunity to say “thank-you” for all of those who have been there to love and support Allan. May the strength of soul he shared with you be forever etched upon your hearts!
Memorials are suggested to the family or to Relay for Life, local chapter, or Saint Francis Hospice.
Peace to your journey, love and light to your path, one in Spirit, journey
well.