Alphonse Bernard Schechinger, 85, of Avoca died Sept. 1 at Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center.

He was born in Harlan. He previously lived in Panama and Harlan. He graduated from St. Peters in Defiance. He served in the U.S. Navy from Aug. 11, 1942, to Nov. 1, 1945. He was a farmer.

Mr. Schechinger was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Von Tersch Schechinger. They were married 60 years.

Survivors include sons, Robert Schechinger and wife, Norene, of Panama, David Schechinger and wife, Pamela, of Bloomfield, N.M., Jim Schechinger and wife, Mary, of Harlan, Mark Schechinger and wife, Deborah, of Harlan, Lee Schechinger and wife, Tammie, of Harlan; daughter, Jolene Koesters, and husband, Phil, of Harlan; 24 grandchildren; 17 great~grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan with the Rev. Robert Hoefler officiating. Burial will be in Harlan Cemetery.

From The Daily Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa) Thursday 02 Sep 2004

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Alphonse "Al" Schechinger - Age 85

Alphonse "Al" Bernard Schechinger, the son of Joseph and Christina (Schomer) Schechinger, was born September 5, 1918 on a farm located north of Harlan.

In 1920, his family moved to a farm north of Defiance, Iowa. Al graduated from St. Paul's Catholic School in Defiance in 1937. He enjoyed playing baseball and basketball.

He was employed at the United States Post Office and worked as a farm hand prior to enlisting in the United States Navy on August 2, 1942. Al was stationed at Sampson Naval Training Center near Geneva, New York.

On June 10, 1944, Al married Mildred Von Tersch in Defiance, Iowa. Six children were born to this union: Robert, Jolene, David, Jim, Mark and Lee. After their marriage they lived in Canandaigua, New York, until he transferred overseas to the Phillippines in January of 1945.

After the war, they operated the Highway Tavern in Defiance, Iowa. In 1950, Al and Mildred began to farm near Panama, Iowa. In 1966, Al and Mildred moved to Logan, Iowa, where he managed the County ASCS Office. In 1972 they moved to Harlan, Iowa, where he managed G&R Feed and Grain until he retired in 1982.

They became very active in St. Michael's Catholic Church. Al enjoyed fishing, especially in Canada, family reunions, and the trips they shared together.

In 2003, Al and Mildred became residents of the Avoca Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Avoca, Iowa. Mildred died on July 14, 2004.

Al died on Wednesday, September 1, 2004, at Avoca Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Avoca, having attained the age of eighty-five years, eleven months and twenty-seven days.

Al was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mildred, and his half brothers and sisters: Martin, Elizabeth, Barbara, Johnny, Cecelia, Cunnie and Katherine, Ralph Grobmier, Leona Dotzler and Madeline Reidel.

He is survived by his children: Robert and Norene Schechinger of Panama, Iowa; Jolene and Phil Koesters of Harlan, Iowa; David and Pamela Schechinger of Bloomfield, New Mexico; Jim and Mary Schechinger; Mark and Deborah Schechinger and Lee and Tammie Schechinger all of Harlan, Iowa; twenty-four grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, September 4, 2004, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa, at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Robert Hoefler officiating and Rev. John Frost and Rev. Fred Reischl concelebrating.

Interment was in the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa, with her grandchildren, Teresa Mardesen, Joni Leinen, Anne Schoenauer, Gina Schechinger, Renee Schechinger, Jill Schechinger, Becky Steinke, Jenne Gregor, Dianne Heath, Heather Florell, Gaylen Petsche, Tammie Christianson, Nathan Finken, Danielle Finken, and Brittni Finken serving as honorary casket bearers.

Serving as casket bearers were her grandchildren, Micah Finken, Jeffrey Schechinger, Joey Koesters, Eric Schechinger, David Koesters, Paul Schechinger, Michael Schechinger, Steve Schechinger and Matthew Schechinger.