Arnold Carl Lechner

Our beloved Arnold Carl Lechner, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at his home in San Antonio, Texas. Arnold was born on a farm on November 1, 1929, in Nebraska City, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents Carl F. and Viola (nee Tucker) Lechner, and his younger brother Norbert R. Lechner.

From a young age, Arnold had dreams to travel, so in September of 1950, he enlisted in the US Navy, and after basic training was stationed in Hawaii to serve in the Pacific. During his service, his fleet tug, the USS Tawakoni (ATF-114), was selected to witness Operation Castle Bomb Tests at Bikini Atoll Marshall Islands. On March 1, 1954, Castle Bravo was the first high-yield thermonuclear test conducted and was the most powerful nuclear device detonated by the United States. The highest level of contamination was also recorded aboard his ship during this operation. Arnold left the Navy in July of 1954 and heard that good jobs were available in California while working in Kansas, so off he went. In 1956 he obtained work at Lockheed Air Craft as an Electronics Technician where he met his forever wife Birdean Francis. They married on November 3, 1957, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly after marrying, Lockheed started layoffs, so Arnold re-enlisted in the US Coast Guard at the same rank as when he left the Navy. Between October 1958 to October 1959, Arnold was sent on a remote tour to Miyakojima Okinawa, Japan, where he experienced a typhoon that nearly destroyed the base. After the typhoon, he nearly got electrocuted trying to open their very large refrigerator, when he grabbed the door handle and couldn’t let go. He was able to back up until the door couldn’t go any further and was finally jarred loose. After numerous remote tours, Arnold decided to get out of the Coast Guard in December 1961, and the very next day re-enlisted in the US Air Force at the same rank. In early December of 1965, Arnold got orders (family included) to go to Tachikawa Air Force Base, outside of Tokyo, Japan. While stationed in Japan, Arnold went on TDY’s to Korea, Thailand, Saigon Vietnam, Okinawa and Miyakojima, Hawaii, and Johnson Island. During this time, Arnold also took the family on a vacation to visit friends on the US territory of Guam. In December of 1968, Arnold (and family) returned to the states being stationed as an instructor at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. On the evening of August 17, 1969, Arnold and his family hunkered down in their house while hurricane Camille, one of the worst hurricanes in history, hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing severe destruction and damage. Between June 1973 to August 1974, Arnold was sent on a remote tour to Iran. Returning to the states, Arnold was stationed at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. This is where he finally put down solid roots and bought a home. On April 1, 1976, Arnold honorably retired from the military after 22 years of service, earning the rank of Master Sergeant. In Arnold’s civilian life, he worked at Datapoint Corporation and Locus International. Arnold instilled in his children a love for travel, taking family vacations every year after returning from Japan. He loved the wide-open spaces and therefore enjoyed traveling and exploring the western United States. After his children had grown, Arnold and Birdean continued their travels until it became too much for him. Arnold was also known as a “jack of all trades,” as he could fix almost anything. He was most happy working in and around the house, gardening, and especially working on his cars.

He leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Birdean, one daughter, Terry Jo, and four sons, Mikel (Carmen), Curtis (Linda), Gary (Ying), and Richard. He also leaves six grandchildren, Kayla, Brianna, Curtis II, Tracey, Corey and Vanessa, and one great-grandson, Silas. He is also survived by his sisters, Kathleen Griepenstroh and Jean (Frank) Godak, and his sister-in-law, JoElla Lechner.

Due to COVID-19, Arnold will be interred with full Military Honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to any military organization.