Ronald M. Bechtel

Ronald M. Bechtel, 77, of West Burlington, died Friday, June 2, 2023, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.
Born January 27, 1946, in Burlington, Iowa, he was the son of Earl Max and Helen P. (Conlee) Bechtel.
He was a 1965 graduate of West Burlington High School and served in the Army and Army Reserves.
He married Joanne Brown, they later divorced. He then married Barbara Howell on November 23, 1976.
Ron was a welder and machine operator for Winegard Co., until his retirement in 2008. He previously worked for Catepillar and J.I. Case.
He was a member of Divine Mercy Parish.
Ron enjoyed playing golf and hosting gatherings at his home. His family especially enjoyed when he would host his Good Friday fish fry or Christmas Eve gathering. Between cookouts in the summer, you could find Ron keeping his grass the perfect height on his riding lawn mower. He had a great personality, and his sense of humor was one of a kind. Ron loved his family dearly, in his own special way. You didn't know Ron if he wasn't giving you a hard time, in a loving way that only he could. He was always there for his family.
He is survived by his wife Barbara Bechtel of West Burlington; two children, Mary Lou (Jeff) Birdsell of Montrose, Iowa and James Bechtel of West Point, Iowa; four grandchildren, April Fields of Good Hope, Illinois, Jessica (Billy) Foutch of Bushnell, Illinois, Danielle (Ian) Kreps of Fort Madison, Iowa and Caleb Birdsell of Montrose, Iowa.; five great grandchildren; god daughters and nieces, Lindsey (Ryan) Schneider of Davenport, Iowa and April (Wade) Schnedler of Mediapolis, Iowa; god son and nephew, Jonathan Mack of Ames, Iowa; one brother, Gary Bechtel of Burlington; four sisters, Linda (Fred) Hofmann, Marlene Jacobs, Tina Olomon and Brenda (Kevin) Graham all of Burlington; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Wilbanks, Cheryl (Jerry) Powell, Kathy (Mike) McCannon and Julia (Dan) Wischmier all of Burlington; brothers-in-law, John Howell, James (Tammy) Howell and Rick Schoof all of Burlington and Michael Howell of Biggsville, Illinois and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters-in-law, Sandra Howell, Patricia Sutty, Joann Schoof and Theresa Mack and brother-in-law Hoss Sutty.
The funeral service for Mr. Bechtel will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 7th at Lunning Chapel. The Very Rev. Father Marty Goetz will officiate. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the funeral service.
A private family inurnment will be held on Thursday in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.