Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Howard Lester "Lester" Bechtel[1]

Male 1929 - 2021  (91 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Howard Lester "Lester" Bechtel 
    Born 9 Feb 1929  [2
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/221753857 
    Name Lester Bechtel 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-146819 
    Died 24 Jan 2021  New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Buried Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I146819  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Feb 2024 

    Father Milton Arthur Bechtel,   b. 31 Oct 1892, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Feb 1983, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 90 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Ziegler,   b. 20 Jun 1889, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Dec 1972, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years) 
    Married 26 Mar 1919  [3
    Family ID F2137  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Alma Mary Bast,   b. 10 Jan 1932, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 May 1994, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years) 
    Married 1954 
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F46567  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Dorothy Ellen Zehr,   b. 23 Mar 1930,   d. 14 Apr 2009, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years) 
    Married 1997 
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F46568  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • In Memory of Lester (Howard) Bechtel 1929 - 2021

      Passed away peacefully, at Nithview Community's Long Term Care Home on January 24, 2021. Loving dad to Bruce and his wife Diane Lichti, (children Craig and Evan); Cheryl and her husband Chris Whelan, (children Brendan and his wife Talin and son Mekai, Kevin, Wayne and son Cobain); Deb and her husband Cam Shapansky, (children Gabbi and Reuben); and Peter and his wife Anna Kabetova (son Matthew). Also remembered by the Lichty family. Lester was a loving husband to the late Alma (Bast) Bechtel (1994) and the late Dorothy (Zehr Lichty Worden) Bechtel (2009). He was predeceased by his brothers, Elton and Orville and their wives, and Roy and his sister Hilda.

      Lester was an intensely practical and humble man who would be happier with a short tribute. He was a successful dairy farmer near Breslau. He was a lifelong member of Wanner Mennonite Church. He liked to whistle, work hard and be outdoors. While farming was the practical choice for him, he was a big proponent of education and specifically Mennonite education. He expressed this through support of Mennonite educational institutions, reading, constant learning and sponsorship of the ongoing Bechtel Lectures at Conrad Grebel University College, which was created to provide the public access to rich academic experiences. He retired young and took different opportunities to travel far, travelling extensively to attend Mennonite World Conference gatherings.

      He looked forward to family get togethers and being at his kids' homes, often sitting back quietly observing. Lester was generous with his time and resources, slow to judge, a deep thinker and amateur philosopher. He carried his ability to 'field-fix' a tractor to all areas of his life. He enjoyed a long and healthy life using his time well.

      Special thanks to Nithview's second floor staff for such loving and compassionate care during very difficult times. We are grateful for the constant communication and many video calls.

      A private family visitation will take place. A livestreamed celebration of life will be held Thursday, January 28 at 1pm. Relatives and friends may join the family in the livestream of the service at www.erbgood.com. Cremation will take place, because as Lester said, "Why would you want to mess up a perfectly good patch of sod?"

      In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the House of Friendship or KidsAbility and can be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.

      Obituary of Lester (Howard) Bechtel: Erb & Good Family Funeral Home (no date) Erb & Good Funeral Home | Exc... Available at: https://erbgood.com/tribute/details/15403/Lester-Bechtel/obituary.html (Accessed: 11 February 2024).

  • Sources 
    1. [S8] News - Gospel Herald, Obituary of Alma Mary Bast - October 11, 1994.

    2. [S2588] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Wanner Cemetery Internet Link.
      BECHTEL/ H. Lester/ 1929- / Alma M. BAST/ [wedding rings/ 1954/ 1932-1994/ Dorothy E. ZEHR/ [wedding rings] 1997/ 1930-2009/ Christ is our hope/[back] B/ Family/ Bruce, Cheryl, Debbie, Peter/ Foster family/

    3. [S8] News - Gospel Herald, Obituary of Elizabeth Ziegler - January 30, 1973.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsDied - 24 Jan 2021 - New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth