Harold E. Bechtel, age 94, Fredericktown, died Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at his residence. He was born on May 13, 1915 in Berlin Township, Knox County, to Alva and Zella (Leedy) Bechtel and spent his lifetime in the Ankenytown and North Liberty area north of Fredericktown where he attended Morgan School then maintained the family farm.
He was drafted into the Army on December 10, 1941, three days after Pearl Harbor, and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Normandy as a Forward Observer with the 7th Field Artillery Battalion assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. For his service, Harold was awarded a Silver Star in Sicily; a Bronze Star, European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with three Battle Stars; Bronze Arrowhead; French Croix de Guerre; and the Distinguished Unit Citation with Cluster. Harold earned battlefield commissions from Staff Sergeant to Second Lieutenant and then to First Lieutenant. Following the war, he returned to Knox County and married his wife, the former Genevieve Butcher, on September 1, 1946, at the Brandon United Methodist Church.
Harold served as a Pike Township Trustee for 25 years and had served as a supervisor for the Knox Soil & Water Conservation District. He was an active member of the North Liberty United Methodist Church, member of the Knox County Farm Bureau, and the Knox County Trustees and Clerks Association. Harold was also a life member of the Future Farmers of America and a member of the American Jersey Cattle Club.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Genevieve (Butcher) Bechtel; his sons and daughters-in-law, Larry & Penny Bechtel, Steve & Vicki Bechtel and Curt Bechtel, all of Fredericktown, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his sisters, Edith Alexander of Tennessee and Erma Roberts of Fredericktown. Besides his parents, Harold was preceded in death by his son Dennis Bechtel, his brothers Eldon and Howard Bechtel and a sister Arlene Kunkel.
Funeral services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the North Liberty United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow at the Owl Creek Cemetery at Ankenytown.
The Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown is honored to serve the family of Harold E. Bechtel
www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/obit
He was drafted into the Army on December 10, 1941, three days after Pearl Harbor, and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Normandy as a Forward Observer with the 7th Field Artillery Battalion assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. For his service, Harold was awarded a Silver Star in Sicily; a Bronze Star, European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with three Battle Stars; Bronze Arrowhead; French Croix de Guerre; and the Distinguished Unit Citation with Cluster. Harold earned battlefield commissions from Staff Sergeant to Second Lieutenant and then to First Lieutenant. Following the war, he returned to Knox County and married his wife, the former Genevieve Butcher, on September 1, 1946, at the Brandon United Methodist Church.
Harold served as a Pike Township Trustee for 25 years and had served as a supervisor for the Knox Soil & Water Conservation District. He was an active member of the North Liberty United Methodist Church, member of the Knox County Farm Bureau, and the Knox County Trustees and Clerks Association. Harold was also a life member of the Future Farmers of America and a member of the American Jersey Cattle Club.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Genevieve (Butcher) Bechtel; his sons and daughters-in-law, Larry & Penny Bechtel, Steve & Vicki Bechtel and Curt Bechtel, all of Fredericktown, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his sisters, Edith Alexander of Tennessee and Erma Roberts of Fredericktown. Besides his parents, Harold was preceded in death by his son Dennis Bechtel, his brothers Eldon and Howard Bechtel and a sister Arlene Kunkel.
Funeral services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the North Liberty United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow at the Owl Creek Cemetery at Ankenytown.
The Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown is honored to serve the family of Harold E. Bechtel
www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/obit
Harold E. Bechtel, age 94, Fredericktown, died Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at his residence. He was born on May 13, 1915 in Berlin Township, Knox County, to Alva and Zella (Leedy) Bechtel and spent his lifetime in the Ankenytown and North Liberty area north of Fredericktown where he attended Morgan School then maintained the family farm.
He was drafted into the Army on December 10, 1941, three days after Pearl Harbor, and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Normandy as a Forward Observer with the 7th Field Artillery Battalion assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. For his service, Harold was awarded a Silver Star in Sicily; a Bronze Star, European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with three Battle Stars; Bronze Arrowhead; French Croix de Guerre; and the Distinguished Unit Citation with Cluster. Harold earned battlefield commissions from Staff Sergeant to Second Lieutenant and then to First Lieutenant. Following the war, he returned to Knox County and married his wife, the former Genevieve Butcher, on September 1, 1946, at the Brandon United Methodist Church.
Harold served as a Pike Township Trustee for 25 years and had served as a supervisor for the Knox Soil & Water Conservation District. He was an active member of the North Liberty United Methodist Church, member of the Knox County Farm Bureau, and the Knox County Trustees and Clerks Association. Harold was also a life member of the Future Farmers of America and a member of the American Jersey Cattle Club.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Genevieve (Butcher) Bechtel; his sons and daughters-in-law, Larry & Penny Bechtel, Steve & Vicki Bechtel and Curt Bechtel, all of Fredericktown, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his sisters, Edith Alexander of Tennessee and Erma Roberts of Fredericktown. Besides his parents, Harold was preceded in death by his son Dennis Bechtel, his brothers Eldon and Howard Bechtel and a sister Arlene Kunkel.
Funeral services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the North Liberty United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow at the Owl Creek Cemetery at Ankenytown.
The Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown is honored to serve the family of Harold E. Bechtel
www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/obit
He was drafted into the Army on December 10, 1941, three days after Pearl Harbor, and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Normandy as a Forward Observer with the 7th Field Artillery Battalion assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. For his service, Harold was awarded a Silver Star in Sicily; a Bronze Star, European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with three Battle Stars; Bronze Arrowhead; French Croix de Guerre; and the Distinguished Unit Citation with Cluster. Harold earned battlefield commissions from Staff Sergeant to Second Lieutenant and then to First Lieutenant. Following the war, he returned to Knox County and married his wife, the former Genevieve Butcher, on September 1, 1946, at the Brandon United Methodist Church.
Harold served as a Pike Township Trustee for 25 years and had served as a supervisor for the Knox Soil & Water Conservation District. He was an active member of the North Liberty United Methodist Church, member of the Knox County Farm Bureau, and the Knox County Trustees and Clerks Association. Harold was also a life member of the Future Farmers of America and a member of the American Jersey Cattle Club.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Genevieve (Butcher) Bechtel; his sons and daughters-in-law, Larry & Penny Bechtel, Steve & Vicki Bechtel and Curt Bechtel, all of Fredericktown, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his sisters, Edith Alexander of Tennessee and Erma Roberts of Fredericktown. Besides his parents, Harold was preceded in death by his son Dennis Bechtel, his brothers Eldon and Howard Bechtel and a sister Arlene Kunkel.
Funeral services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the North Liberty United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow at the Owl Creek Cemetery at Ankenytown.
The Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown is honored to serve the family of Harold E. Bechtel
www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/obit
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