Lester Leo Achatz, 65, died Sept. 14 at Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita. Born Oct. 21, 1948, in Great Bend, he was the son of Milton and Bertha (Birzer) Achatz. On Dec. 27, 2011, he married Kimm M. Lewis in Great Bend. He grew up in Great Bend and lived in Virginia before moving back to Great Bend. He was employed by H-2 Trucking.
Mr. Achatz was a United States Navy veteran of the Vietnam conflict. He was of the Catholic faith. He was a dedicated husband and father and a most loyal friend to many. He had a deep passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and was a charter member of the Sidewinders.
Survivors include his wife, Kimm M. Achatz, of the home; parents, Milton and Bertha Achatz, of Ellinwood; two sons, Lester Achatz Jr. of Virginia Beach, Va., and Kyle Edward Koehn of Chicago, Ill.; three daughters, Jodi Maciel and her husband Pablo and Kristen Powell, all of Great Bend, and Jordan Allen of Hoisington; four brothers, John Achatz and his wife Bonnie of Lyons, Charlie Achatz and his wife Barb, Paul Achatz, and Gerald Achatz and his wife Glenna, all of Great Bend; and four grandchildren, Brayden Powell, Trevin Maciel, Jerzie Maciel, and Jagger Maciel.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Bryant Funeral Home with Pastors Chuck Carpenter and Mike Joiner officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend Cemetery with military rites by the United States Navy Honor Guard.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and 9 a.m. to service time on Friday, at Bryant Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Lester Achatz Funeral Expense Fund in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
    
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 17, 2014