Esther Emma (Funke) Lechtenberg

Esther Emma Lechtenberg, 88, of Masonville, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2016, at the Edgewood Convalescent Home.  She was born on September 9, 1927, at Greeley, the daughter of Bernard (Ben) and Margaret (Klosterman) Funke.  Esther was raised and educated in the area, graduating from the Greeley High School.

On January 11, 1949, Esther was united in marriage to Alfred “Fritz” Lechtenberg in Greeley.  Eight children were born to this union.  Together they farmed in the Monti area until moving to Masonville.  In 2010, the couple moved to Senior Housing in Manchester.

Esther was a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She proudly baked the morning biscuits at Hardee’s for 16 years. Esther enjoyed quilting, sewing, and was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs.  She liked attending her grandchildren’s events and cherished spending time with her family.

Survivors include her seven children, Edna (Arthur) Wickman of Ryan, Jim (Deborah) Lechtenberg of Dundee, Paul (Lynn) Lechtenberg of Delhi, Ann (Dave) Venteicher of Manchester, Kate (Eldon) Baragary of Winthrop, Kevin (Kelly) Lechtenberg of Omaha, Nebraska, and Dan (Carla) Lechtenberg of Manchester; 27 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; one son-in-law, Randy (Theresa) Smith of Roseburg, Oregon; and three sisters-in-law, Doris Funke of Edgewood, Ida Funke of Grayslake, Illinois, and Lou Mae Funke of Manchester.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Fritz Lechtenberg; one daughter, Karen Smith in 1985; her parents; and siblings Edna Funke, Ralph Funke, Irene Mensen, Charlotte   Mensen, Helen Vaske, Arthur Funke, Edward Funke, Lester Funke, and Margie Reinert.

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