Phyllis Lechtenberg
Phyllis Lechtenberg
Phyllis Lechtenberg, age 97, of Festina, Iowa, died on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, IA.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church, Festina, Iowa at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, January 23, 2021. Interment was in the Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Cemetery, Festina, IA
Phyllis Frances (Huber) Lechtenberg was born on March 24, 1923, the daughter of Alphonse and Elizabeth (Reicks) Huber in rural St. Lucas, IA. She was baptized at St. Luke Catholic Church in St. Lucas and attended one year of school there until the family moved to Lawler, IA where she received her first communion and was confirmed at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church.
After graduating from Lawler High School as valedictorian, Phyllis attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, where she received her teaching certificate. She taught in rural schools in Winneshiek and Chickasaw Counties for several years. She also taught at St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1957 and 1958.
Phyllis became Festina’s postmaster in 1958. She was the postmaster there for thirty-four years until the post office closed in 1992.
Phyllis was united in marriage to Theodore Lechtenberg and lived on a farm near Festina. They were later divorced. Phyllis enjoyed having her six children, ten grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren visit. She enjoyed sewing, reading, nature, bird watching and helping at the reunions at the St. Anthony’s smallest church each June. She was a woman of faith.
She is survived by her children: Vernelle (Floyd) Hackman, Fort Atkinson, IA; Lois (Gary) Frana, Calmar, IA; Joan Winings, Dover, DE; Larry Lechtenberg, Festina, IA; Lora (Dave) Kuhn, Anamosa, IA and Alan Lechtenberg, Calmar, IA. Ten grandchildren: Beth Hackman, Minneapolis, MN; Kelly (Brenda) Frana, Calmar, IA; Kathy (Ryan) Becker, Ossian, IA; Natalie (Mark) Cuddy, St. Petersburg, FL; Mark (RyAnn) Winings, Festina, IA; Heidi (Bryan) Foster, Knoxville, TN; Kyle (Vanessa) Kuhn, Harrisburg, VA; Kevin Kuhn, Nashville, TN; Keegan (Rachael) Kuhn, Chicago, IL and Justin (Karla) Lechtenberg, Calmar, IA. Twenty-one great grandchildren. Sister: Ethel Mae (Ken) Schneberger, New Hampton, IA along with many nieces and nephews and a special “relative friend”, Mary Lechtenberg.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents: Alphonse and Elizabeth (Reicks) Huber. Son-in-law: Gary Winings. Daughter-in-law: Dawn Lechtenberg. Two grandchildren: Kimberly and Cory Lechtenberg. Sisters: Alma (Greg) Uhlenhake, Marie (Leo) Wenthold and Lorraine Fisher. Brothers: Arthur (Catherine) Huber and Henry (Hilda) Huber. Sisters-in-law: Edvina (Joseph) Thuente, Bertha (John) Thuente, Julia (Andrew) Hemesath, Bridget Lechtenberg, Odelia (Leander “Lenny”) Cremer, Catherine (Art) Huber, Rita (Linus) Bodensteiner. Brothers-in-law: Joe (Caroline) Lechtenberg, Greg (Elizabeth) Lechtenberg and Irenaeus Lechtenberg as a child.