Joseph
Joseph Lechner
d. May 31, 2011
Obituary for Joseph H. "Toppy" Lechner
Joseph Herbert “Toppy” Lechner, 91, died Tuesday, May 31, 2011, in Durango, Colorado. Cremation has occurred and no services are planned at this time
Mr. Lechner was born April 8, 1920, in Durango, Colorado, the son of Joe and Georgie (Amos) Lechner and raised on the family’s homestead in Rockwood, attending elementary and secondary school there.
At the age of 8 years old, Toppy was given the responsibility for tending to the cattle. He would cross the Animas River and ride to the top of Missionary Ridge, many times staying overnight. During the winter months, Toppy snowshoed to Missionary Ridge to set traps for marten, then skied down the mountain on homemade skis with an aspen pole brake. He also tended the cattle in Dutch Creek in Hermosa.
He married Opal D. (Barnes) in 1942 at Aztec, New Mexico. The couple lived in Durango, where he worked for Rio Grande Motorways - delivering all over the area. Then moving to Ignacio, Toppy helped on his father-in-law's ranch, and he worked for the Ignacio School District as a bus driver and custodian. He worked 10 years at Tamarron. At 78 he cleared oil and gas well pads and continued to work into his eighties.
Mr. Lechner's passion was hunting and fishing and he frequently recounted vivid stories of his hunting on Missionary Ridge and Hermosa. He remembered when elk were introduced into this region and drew one of the first elk hunts. He also enjoyed skiing and ice skating in his younger years.
He is survived by his wife Opal of Ignacio, granddaughter Brenna Urfer of Orange Park, Fla,; sister Betty Jones of Grand Junction, Colo.; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and a sister, and his son Gale.
Mr. Lechner was born April 8, 1920, in Durango, Colorado, the son of Joe and Georgie (Amos) Lechner and raised on the family’s homestead in Rockwood, attending elementary and secondary school there.
At the age of 8 years old, Toppy was given the responsibility for tending to the cattle. He would cross the Animas River and ride to the top of Missionary Ridge, many times staying overnight. During the winter months, Toppy snowshoed to Missionary Ridge to set traps for marten, then skied down the mountain on homemade skis with an aspen pole brake. He also tended the cattle in Dutch Creek in Hermosa.
He married Opal D. (Barnes) in 1942 at Aztec, New Mexico. The couple lived in Durango, where he worked for Rio Grande Motorways - delivering all over the area. Then moving to Ignacio, Toppy helped on his father-in-law's ranch, and he worked for the Ignacio School District as a bus driver and custodian. He worked 10 years at Tamarron. At 78 he cleared oil and gas well pads and continued to work into his eighties.
Mr. Lechner's passion was hunting and fishing and he frequently recounted vivid stories of his hunting on Missionary Ridge and Hermosa. He remembered when elk were introduced into this region and drew one of the first elk hunts. He also enjoyed skiing and ice skating in his younger years.
He is survived by his wife Opal of Ignacio, granddaughter Brenna Urfer of Orange Park, Fla,; sister Betty Jones of Grand Junction, Colo.; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and a sister, and his son Gale.
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