Hartford WWII Servicemen
(L-R): Pvt. Joseph Lechner,, M/Sgt. Gerald Wenzel,
Cpl. Victor Kroening and Sgt. Robert Thorn
Joseph J. Lechner, of St. Germain and Hartford, passed away September 10, 2010 at Avanti Health and Rehabilitation in Minocqua. He was 86 years old.
He was born August 8, 1924 in Hartford to Joseph and Cecelia (nee Bingen) Lechner. He married Florence Black on January 30, 1947 in Hartford.
Joe served his country in the United States Army. While in the Army, he received The Purple Heart for wounds received in Italy during World War II. He was a carpenter for many years and also worked for International Stamping in Hartford until his retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Florence and one son, Terry (Pat) of West Bend; 4 granddaughters, Dr. Terri Lynn Lechner, D.C. of Ashville, NC, Kimberly (Doug) Hoy of Baraboo, Crystal Askari and Alison Lechner both of Milwaukee; 3 great grandchildren, Dezarae and Zachery Hoy and Abyan Askari. Joe is further survived by one brother-in-law, Clarence (Joyce) of Aurora, IL; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Fritz and Paul; 6 sisters, Marie VanBeek, Margeret Reis, Helen Elsinger,
Florence Perenchio, Bernice Jochem and Dorothy Menzel.
Gerald "Jiggs" Wenzel, 66, died December 28, 1980 at Winter Haven, FL. ​He was a World War II veteran and a 1931 graduate of Hartford Union High School.
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He was a greens superintendent at the Hartford Country Club for 15 years and a member of the Land O' Lakes Oldtimers Association.
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Gerald is survived by his wife Ethyl, his mother Mrs. Edward Wenzel of Hartford, brothers Roundy of Hartford and James of St. Germaine, sisters-in-law Bernice and Anne, and nieces and nephews.
Victor H. Kroening, age 63, of 228 Grand Ave., Hartford, died Friday, April 2, 1982 at Hartford Memorial Hospital after a short illness.
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He was employed as a printer throughout his lifetime at the Hartford Times-Press, Shinners Graphics and later Omni Graphics.
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He was born and raised in Hartford, the son of Earl and Hattie Mueller Kroening. He married Jeanette Troller at Reformation Church in Milwaukee on November 25, 1948.
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A veteran of World War II, he served in the Army Air Force in both the European and Pacific theaters. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and was a former church council member and served in the Sunday School of the church.
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Survivors include his wife, Jeanette, a daughter, Linda of Washington, D.C., and a son, Keith of Los Angeles. He is also survived by a sister, Ruth Zimmerman, a brother, Edward, both of Hartford, a brother-in-law, Arthur Zimmerman of Antigo and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, George and Audrey Troller of Whitefish Bay and by nieces and nephews.
Robert Thorn, 23, of Hartford, is one of the 29 who lost his life while a passenger on the Dixie Flyer train at Terre Haute, IN. He was en route to Miami, FL after a furlough to his home following the completion of 50 bombing missions in the North African, European and Mediterranean theaters. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Thorn.