Lechner, The Rev. Ludolph Richard

The Rev. Ludolph Richard Lechner, 84, of Guttenberg, died Thursday, May 19, 2011, at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Guttenberg, with the Rev. Shane Anderson officiating. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Monticello. The family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday at Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 207 S. First St., Guttenberg, and one hour before services Tuesday at the church.

Born March 17, 1927, in Seattle, Wash., to the Rev. Adolph and Elva (Fedeler) Lechner, Ludolph was baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Seattle on March 20, 1927, and in 1928, moved to Hedrick, Iowa. In 1932, he moved to Dubuque, where he started Audabon Grade School. In 1938, the Lechners moved to Palmer, where Ludolph was confirmed on March 25, 1942, at St. Paul Church. In 1945, he graduated from Palmer High School. Later that year Ludolph entered Wartburg College and graduated with a B.A. degree. After leaving Waverly, Ludolph entered Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque and graduated with B.D. degree in 1951. On July 1, 1951, Pastor Lechner was ordained at St. John Lutheran Church in Toluca, Ill., by the Rev. A.J. Lechner.

On July 10, 1955, Ludolph was united in marriage with Jane Mardorf at St. Peter & Paul Lutheran Church in Monticello. Throughout the next 60 years Pastor Lechner served many churches in many communities and was occasionally still helping several churches with various ventures actively up until his death.

In his free time, Ludolph enjoyed fishing; his family made several trips to Canada. Ludolph and Jane traveled the country, especially stopping at several national parks in the West. Gardening was a big part of his life and he also made time to enjoy hunting wildlife in God's country.

Ludolph is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jane Lechner; two children, Linda (Ken C.) Dettbarn of Elkader and David Lechner of Trilby, Fla.; two grandsons, Sean and Nicholas Dettbarn; and two sisters, Eunice Reinhardt of Flanagan, Ill., and Naomi (Pastor Richard) Vonesh of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Ludolph was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Lois Meier and Ruth Vonbehren; and one brother, Paul Lechner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. John's Lutheran Church in Guttenberg for the new building project or a charity of your choice.

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