Francis “Frank” Lesch
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The Mass of Christian Burial for Francis Wenzel “Frank” Lesch, 88, Lawrence, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 7, 2011 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Lawrence. Mr. Lesch died January 4, 2011 at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community.
He was born August 21, 1922 in Westphalia, KS, the son of Joseph F. and Rosalia Habiger Lesch.
Mr. Lesch attended the University of Kansas from 1941 to 1942. After college, in 1942, he entered the U. S. Army Air Corp. He trained in Ogden, Utah from 1942 until 1943 when the 319th Depot Repair Squadron was activated. He served in North Africa and Italy during WWII and was discharged in 1945.
He had wanted to have a career in coaching. Frank worked many jobs, farm hand, grocery clerk at Kroger, Sunflower ammunition Plant, he worked in a radio shop, a barber for Downtown Stadium Barber Shop and retired from KP&L in 1984 after 15 years of service.
Frank is a member of the Dorsey-Liberty Post No. 14 American Legion, a member of VFW, and a former member of Knights of Columbus.
He married Violet Virginia “Jean” Brewer on September 19, 1947 in Lawrence, KS. She preceded him in death April 12, 1990. He later married Doris Ray McDaniels in September 1990. They lived in Bountiful, Utah, for 20 years. She preceded him in death March 2010.
Survivors include four daughters; Linda Rose Eckman, Baldwin City, KS, Shirley Jean Wittebort, and husband, Ron Hagedorn, DeSoto, KS, Michelle Sisam, and husband, Mark , Centerville, Utah, and Melonie Nelson, and husband, Dan, California; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Lisa Setty, David Eckman, Mike Eckman, Crystal Volk, and Doug Wittebort, Cameron, Kira & Courtney Setty, Lindsay & Nathan Eckman, Ethan Eckman, Trinity Volk, Lindsey, Laura, David, Adam, Travis, Lexie, and Tyler.
He will lie in state Thursday from 1 to 9 p.m. at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
The family suggests memorials in his name to Mt. Calvary Cemetery and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
We will miss You!!!
To Frank’s Family:
I am the Director of the Golden Years Senior Center in Bountiful, UT. Frank was such a gareat guy – he was a hard worker and helped us so much at the center – He served meals and helped clean up every day. I loved having Doris and Frank come in and play cards. We joked back and forth with each other. He had a contagious laugh. I really miss both of them.
Karen Henderson
I often think of Frank & Doris,and have such a feeling of loss, and I miss them very much. I feel very lucky to have been part of there life. They both were good examples to me, for that I will forever be grateful.