Joseph "Joe" Lechman Jr., 75, of Sterling, died June 30, 2010, in Sterling. Vigil service and Recitation of the Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday, July 2, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 3, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, with the Rev. Robert L. Wedow officiating. Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery.

Mr. Lechman was born April 27, 1935, in Crook to Joseph Sr. and Mary (Schiel) Lechman. After his father died in 1945, his family moved to Sterling. He graduated from St. Anthony Catholic School.
He served in the U.S. Army between 1956 and 1958, completing his training in Company A 546 Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Lewis, Wash. He spent one year in Greenland and was discharged at Fort Hood, Texas.

He worked with L.E. Whitlock and J&M Trucking as a truck driver in the oil industry.
On June 6, 1959, he married Margaret O'Dell at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Sidney, Neb.

Mr. Lechman was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church. He built and welded crafts for the home.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Lechman of Sterling; daughters, Susan Lechman and Debbie Lockhart, and son, Jay Lechman, all of Sterling; brother, Ed Lechman and wife Sonya of Merino; sister, Dorothy Held and husband Harry of Sterling; grandchildren, Jolene, Dara, Ross and Stetson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert Lechman; and stepfather, George Maier.
Memorials may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church or National Jewish Hospital in Denver.