Chester Kohmetscher

Chester J. Kohmetscher, age 93, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, at his home in Lawrence.

His funeral started Nov. 12 with the traditional Knights of Columbus Rosary. The Mass of Resurrection was offered Friday, Nov. 13 with Father Corey Harrison officiating. Both were at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lawrence. Assisting at the Mass were: Lyle Kohmetscher as Lector; Caleb Griffis, Kade Peters and Carter Griffis as Servers: Organist: Linda Ostdiek; Carla Kohmetscher and Carolyn Kohmetscher as Song Leaders.

An Honor Guard was provided by the Knights of Columbus Council 1906 and the American Legion Post 45.

Active pallbearers were: Dale Kohmetscher, Jim Kucera, Francis Schroer, Tim Kohmetscher, Mike Kucera, Jim Schroer. Honorary Pallbearers were: Glen Beyke and Gary Beyke.

Interment was at the Sacred Heart Cemetery east of Lawrence with military honors by the Kent Kailey American Legion Post 45 and the Army National Guard Honor’s Team.

A memorial has been established to be designated at a later date. For the health and safety of others, face masks were required for those attending the visitation and funeral.

Chester was born on March 22, 1927, to Alois J. and Helen M. (Lemke) Kohmetscher in Webster County. He graduated from Sacred Heart School and then Lawrence High School in 1945. Chester served in the United States Army from Sept. 18, 1951 to June 17, 1953 during the Korean War and was wounded in action near Soo-Dong, North Korea. He received the Purple Heart. On April 24, 1956, he married Helen K. Hubl at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He farmed near Lawrence and later worked at P. W. Pipe in Hastings, Nebraska for 15 years.

Mr. Kohmetscher had been a 4-H leader and American Legion Commander. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he was a lector for many years, Kent Kailey American Legion Post 45 of Lawrence, the V. F. W. Post 10045 of Deweese and the Knights of Columbus. He was a big sports fan, especially of the Huskers, where he and his wife, Helen, had season tickets for many years. He enjoyed doing puzzles and framing them and playing cards. He especially enjoyed his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Chester is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen, Lawrence; four sons and one daughter: Tom (Pat Hagan) Kohmetscher, McCook; John (Laurie) Kohmetscher, Fairfield; Frank (Marilyn) Kohmetscher, Doniphan; Larry (Suzie) Kohmetscher, Lawrence and Marlene Kohmetscher, Lincoln; nine grandchildren: Laura and Betsy Kohmetscher, Nathan Kohmetscher, Josh (Megan) Kucera, Brian (Amy) Kohmetscher, Eric (Rachel) Kohmetscher, Mollie Kohmetscher, Elyssa Kohmetscher, Lexie Kohmetscher; seven great-grandchildren: Dawson, Collin, Carson and Rowan Kucera, Kinsley, Macy and Jett Kohmetscher; two sisters: Dolores Kucera and Patricia Kucera, both of Lawrence; one sister-in-law: Marie Schroer of Hastings; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Cindy Kohmetscher; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Gerald (Alice) Kohmetscher, Robert (Kathleen) Kohmetscher; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Frank J. (Arlene) Hubl, Irvin Schroer, Edmund and Clement Kucera.