Max F. Bechtle

Max F. Bechtle, 88, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, February 3, 2016, at Vintage Park. Funeral services will be held 10:00 A.M., Monday, February 8, 2016, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Family will meet with friends one hour prior to service at 9:00 A.M. Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Bechtle from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., Sunday, February 7, 2016, at the mortuary. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, with military honors by the Warren Black Post #60 American Legion. Max was born Tuesday, May 10, 1927, in Ottawa, Kansas, the son of Ernest and Elba (Herring) Bechtle. He spent most of his life in Ottawa. Max served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 during World War II, seeing action in the Philippines and New Guinea. He obtained the rank of petty officer 3rd class. Max was united in marriage with Roberta Ann Hunter December 15, 1946, in Ottawa. She preceded him in death on April 3, 2006. Survivors include his two children, Robert Bechtle of Newton and Sally McGonigle and husband Garry of Ottawa; two grandchildren, Micah Seiff and wife Jessica of Topeka and Mollie Seiff of Ottawa; two great grandchildren, Sophia Seiff of Topeka and Anadora Seiff of Ottawa; and special friend, Joyce Wasmund of Ottawa. He was also preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Kenneth and Gerald Bechtle; and sister, Olive Baskett. He was employed during the late 1940s as a lineman for Kansas City Power and Light. In the early 1980s, he owned and operated a marina at Kaw Lake, near Ponca City, Oklahoma. Max had a lifelong career of building homes, and later built custom cabinetry from the early 1950s to the mid 2000s. Max was a member of the First Christian Church. He was a life member of the Warren Black Post 60 American Legion of Ottawa, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5901, Ottawa. He was the Grand Marshall in the 2015 Veterans Day Parade in Ottawa. He loved spending time with his family, grandchildren and friends. At the age of 14, he learned to fly and built model biplanes from scratch. He raised Santa Gertrudis cattle during the mid 1960s and 1970s. In his free time, he liked to go boating and built a cabin cruiser boat by hand. Max also loved going to dinner theatre. The family suggests memorial contributions to Prairie Paws Animal Shelter c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Max’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com