Lechky, John Joseph

John Joseph Lechky, 95, of Nokomis, Fla., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, Aug. 7, 2009. A funeral mass will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Papich-Kuba Janeba Chapel West, 1604 J St. SW.

John was born April 14, 1914, to Benjamin “Fred” and Anna (Safranek) Lechky at home in Cedar Rapids. He married Lillian Klimes on May 2, 1939, in Anamosa. John worked at Quaker Oats Co., and as an assembly foreman at Iowa Manufacturing for 30 years. He moved to Florida in 1993 and devotedly cared for his wife until her death on July 30, 1997. John read the Bible deaily. He was an avid artist, fisherman, hunter, horseman and bird watcher.

John was a truly special loving husband and father and he will be deeply missed by his family.

John is survived by his son, Michael and wife Barbara of Nokomis, Fla.; stepgranddaughters, Shannon Sandvig (Gavin) and Jennifer Sutherland, and stepgreat-grandchildren, Benjamin, Samuel and Joseph Sandvig, all of Ankeny; and nephews, David Kuda, Jack Lechty, Donald Reeves and Walter Johnson.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lilly; his parents, four sisters and one brother.