Dr. Joseph Lechtenberg

Dr. Joseph A. Lechtenberg, 85, of Maquoketa died Sunday, January 31, 2010 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, February 4 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Maquoketa, with the Msgr. Edward Lechtenberg and Rev. James Chappel officiating.
Family and friends may call from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 3 at Lahey Funeral Home in Maquoketa, where a vigil service will be held at 8 p.m. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Maquoketa, with military honors accorded by Timber City American Legion Post #75, O’Connor-Regenwether VFW Post #3633 and Andrew AMVETS Post #62.
Joseph A. Lechtenberg was born March 24, 1924 in Lansing to Joseph A. and Mary G. (Foley) Lechtenberg. He graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Lansing in May of 1942. It was December 7, 1941 that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, and World War II had been declared, so with a strong feeling of obligation to serve his county, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. December 11, 1945, he enrolled in a pre-dental program at Loras College in Dubuque.
In 1948, he was accepted in the Marquette University School of Dentistry and graduated in 1952 with a D.D.S. degree. He married Kathryn M. “Kay” Bronson May 5, 1956, at St. Raphael Cathedral in Dubuque. Dr. J.A. Lechtenberg practiced Dentistry in Maquoketa from 1952 to 1996. He opened his first practice in Maquoketa with  E.V. Andrew, M.D.  Upon the retirement of Dr. Andrew the office was then shared with  Leo Biehl, D.D.S.
In 1978, Joseph’s daughter, Mary Pat, received her Dental Hygiene degree and joined the practice. In 1990, his oldest son, Joe, graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and became an associate with his father in the dental practice. With the growth of the practice, space was at a premium, therefore, Lechtenberg Dental purchased and remodeled its present location at 129 W. Pleasant Street.
Throughout his years of practice he was a member of the American Dental Association, the Iowa Dental Association, and the Davenport District Dental Society. He was honored with a Lifetime Membership in all three associations in 1989.
Dr. Lechtenberg supported and participated in many community activities. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he served on the first Parish Council under Fr. Loosbrock and remained on the council through the building of Sacred Heart School and Church.  He was a member of  Fr. Loosbrock Council #8269 Knights of Columbus, Timber City American Legion Post #75, O’Connor-Regenwether VFW Post #3633 and the former Men’s Society and Maquoketa Lions Club.
He was a member of the Maquoketa Chamber of Commerce through all the years of his practice, and in 1998 was co-recipient  of the Maquoketa Chamber of Commerce “President's Award”. For many years, he served on the D.A.C. Board of Directors, Maquoketa Airport Commission, and the Planning and Zoning Commission. He was especially proud of chairing the group that secured fluoridation in the Maquoketa water system. He was a promoter and coach of Little League baseball and was a Cub Master for the Cub Scout program.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kay Lechtenberg; eight children, Mary Pat (Mike) Burns, Dr. Joseph A. (Liz) Lechtenberg and Edward (Annette) Lechtenberg, all of Maquoketa, Robert (Sandy) Lechtenberg of Helotes, TX, Karl Lechtenberg of Bettendorf, Kurt (Laurie) Lechtenberg of DeWitt, Kathy (Rick) Schmidt of Maquoketa, and Annette (Robert) Brasko of Apopka, FL; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Anne Scheid of Berwyn, IL; one brother, Msgr. Edward Lechtenberg of Lansing; and a brother-in-law, Charles W. “Bud” Fischer of Westchester, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
Memorials may be given to Hospice of Jackson County. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.laheys.com.