Funeral services for Andrew Norman Pechacek, 94, of Albert Lea will be held at 10:30 Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Curtis Zieske will officiate. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Andrew died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, at Thorne Crest Retirement Center.
Andrew Norman Pechacek was born on Oct. 12, 1914, to Frank and Martena (Meland) Pechacek in Hope. At the age of 4, Andrew’s family moved to a farm near Ellendale. Andrew was the middle child in a family of 13. He graduated from Ellendale High School and was the president of the class. After high school, Andrew attended Dana College in Blaire, Neb., and cut hair to pay his tuition. On Dec. 31, 1941, he was united in marriage to Phyllis Janet Foster at St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church in rural Steele County. Shortly after his marriage Andrew was called into service for the United States Army. He was in a company of engineers for three years. They went through the Guinea’s island hopping. Andrew was also stationed in the Philippines while serving in the Army. Andrew was a member of the greatest generation of our times. After the war Andrew was a loan officer for agricultural loans at PCA. While working there, he also bought and ran a farm of his own. He enjoyed playing cards, doing church work, and traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe. Andrew was married to his lovely wife for 60 years.
Survivors include his sons: Norman (Cynthia Nelson) Pechacek and Miles Pechacek; daughters-in-law: Peggy (Wulff) Pechacek and Dontta (Lee-Pechacek) Smith; grandchildren: David, Laura, and Daniel Pechacek, Heidi Pechacek and Brett Pechacek-Smith; and his brother, Emil.
Andrew was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Phyllis; sons: Noel and Vance; and siblings: Edward, Louis, William, Frank, Jessie, Emma, Clayton, Martha and Monroe.