George Bechtel

1932 - 2019  (86 years)

• Name	George Bechtel
  Born	4 Aug 1932  [1]
  Gender	Male
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-266356
  Died	3 May 2019
  Person ID	I266356	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Nelson Bechtel,   b. 9 Jan 1887, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 20 Mar 1968, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Florida, United States  (Age 81 years)
  Mother	Martha Snyder,   b. 5 Feb 1893, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 12 Mar 1945, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 52 years)
  Married	22 Aug 1916	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Family ID	F3234	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Grace Almeda Schott
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F51165	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  George Bechtel Farmer, animal lover, singer, husband, teacher, father, gardener, train enthusiast, transportation advocate, and cyclist, George passed from this life on May 3, 2019, aged 86 years. He was the beloved husband of Grace (Schott), father of Trevor (Susan Hunsberger), and Gini (Tamara Shantz). He was the son of Nelson (1968) and Martha (Snyder, 1945) and stepson of Margaret (McTavish, 1985), and the brother of Janet (2013, Tom Inglis 1994), Mary Alma (2010, Charles Goodrich, 1992), Ruth, who survives (John Hess, 2007), and Dorothy (2010, Merlin Grove, 1962). George spent the first part of his life working on his father's farm, established in 1816. His love of animals began here, particularly as he nursed his badly injured peacock Birdy back to health from a near fatal attack, and related to the dairy cattle with his characteristic gentleness. George taught at the secondary level and community college level for 29 years forming lifelong relationship with many students and colleagues. In retirement he volunteered at Doon Heritage Crossroads and researched early farm gardens building on his lifelong vocation as a gardener. George introduced many people in Waterloo County to the beauty of the dried strawflower producing many blooms for sale at the farmer's market and for Grace's bouquets. George had a sought after tenor voice, singing in choirs and quartets\endash notably the Junior Farmers Quartet and Renaissance Singers\endash and leading singing and soloing throughout the Mennonite community. He was both a lover of British cars and an advocate of alternatives to the automobile. He was known publicly as an advocate of passenger rail publishing regular articles and letters to the editor and planning yearly family train trips. The family had two dogs, Avey and Bo, after which George took up weekend sitting for National Service dogs. Most recently George and Grace welcomed Mabel the cat into their home. George was rejuvenated by summer family camping trips, being outside and cooking on the hibachi. He was also an avid cyclist and recorded his mileage daily. He travelled the circumference of the earth more than two and a half times on short and long bicycle trips in Ontario. Late in life he suffered a significant bicycle accident and subsequently became interested in the results of concussions. A longtime interest in family and local history took shape in the Society for the Preservation of the Samuel Bechtel Burial Ground, a registered non-profit he founded with others to protect the site were Mennonites first gathered 200 years ago. George will be remembered by many relatives and friends. "George Bechtel - Friday, May 3Rd, 2019". 2023. Memorials.Henrywalser.Com. https://memorials.henrywalser.com/Bechtel-George/3825427/obituary.php.

  
  

• Sources

  [S2588] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Wanner Cemetery Internet Link. B/ Janet BECHTEL/ 1918-2013/ Her husband/ Tom INGLIS/ 1918-1994/ Mary Alma BECHTEL/ 1920-2010/ Her husband/ Charles GOODRICH/ 1922-1992/ Ruth BECHTEL/ 1924- / her husband/ John HESS/ 1922-2007/ Dorothy BECHTEL// 1926-2010/ Her husband/ Merlin GROVE/ 1929-1962/ George BECHTEL// 1932- / His wife/ Grace SCHOTT/ 1937- / [S2488] aaa Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 021719 (1916). Name:Nelson Bechtel Age:29 Birth Year:abt 1887 Birth Place:Waterloo Marriage Date:22 Aug 1916 Marriage Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Father:Jesse Bechtel Mother:Rebecca Cober Spouse:Martha Snyder