Victor G. Zechmann

FOSTER -- Services for Victor G. Zechmann, 91, of Norfolk will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church at Foster with burial in Pleasant View Cemetery at Plainview. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Stonacek Memorial Chapel at Pierce. The Rev. Jerome Leckband will officiate. Military rites will be by American Legion Post 326 and VFW Post 7838. He died Thursday, April 18, 2013, at his home. Victor George Zechmann, the son of Josef and Helena Wiese Zechmann, was born on July 12, 1921, on a farm by Pierce. He was given the gift of Holy Baptism at St. Mary's Church and later confessed his faith and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Foster by Pastor Elno Budde on Nov. 5, 1955. Victor entered his heavenly home April 18, 2013, with his family by his side. Vic helped his dad farm in the Depression years and was taken out of school in the fifth grade, as his dad said he didn't need an education to farm. He broke his back when putting up hay at the age of 9. As a child he loved to walk to the Foster creek to fish for bullheads, and he trapped and sold hides. He raised chickens one year to make money to buy his mother dentures. Vic hauled many loads of wood that he and his brother took to the poor people of Osmond, while walking beside the wagon to stay warm. His dad made him speak German as a child, which he did not like. He eventually took over the family farm, where he lived until he was 89 years old. They moved to Norfolk Oct. 18, 2010. Vic was drafted into the Army in 1942. He was an expert rifleman and skilled in training other soldiers. He was a medic and ranked as a tech-5. He was a German prisoner guard, which then made him thankful that his dad forced him to speak German as a child. Vic had a German prisoner who was very grateful to him for his kind treatment and in return made him a keepsake box. He was honorably discharged in 1946 after serving in World War II. He moved back to the farm after returning home from the war in 1946. On March 28, 1948, he married Shirley Hilkemeier at Zion Lutheran Church in Plainview. He taught himself mechanics by fixing old cars to drive and later learned to overhaul his own tractors despite minimal formal education. Vic loved woodworking and restoring old cars. He spent much of his retirement enjoying those hobbies, along with fishing and camping with his family, in addition to spending time with his grandchildren and great- grandchildren. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Foster since 1948, where he was trustee and handyman for 25 years. His services included making bookshelves and crosses for each family of the church. Survivors are his wife, Shirley, of 65 years; three sons, Dick and Patti Zechmann of Lincoln, Steve and Kristi Zechmann of Lincoln, Bill and Jane Zechmann of Norfolk; one daughter, Pam and Tom Walton of Creighton; 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; one sister, Margaret Colson of Boise, Idaho; and one sister-in-law, Jean Zechmann of Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents, Josef and Helena; son Don; great-grandchild Maggie Zechmann; siblings Joe Zechmann, Mary Travelute, John Zechmann, Frank Zechmann, Francis Scheuerer, Theodore Zechmann, Angela Bowling, Victoria Zechmann-Vic's twin, Vincent Zechmann, Ferdinand Zechmann and Theresa Wiehn. Organist will be Mrs. Kristi Leckband with congregational hymns, "Rock Of Ages," "Amazing Grace," "I'm But A Stranger Here," "Just As I Am" and "For All The Saints." Casket bearers will be Chad Zechmann, Chris Zechmann, Austin Zechmann, Brett Zechmann, Lance Zechmann, Bryce Zechmann, Alex Walton, Cody Lahman. Honorary casket bearers will be Delbert Krueger, Paulmer Wiedmeier, Tim Krueger, Darrell Kahny.

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Victor G. Zechmann

July 12, 1921 - April 18, 2013