Kelup Jay Lechner

Kelup Jay Lechner, 49, of Aberdeen, passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at ManorCare Health Services in Aberdeen.

Kelup’s wishes were to be cremated. His memorial service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 10, 2014, at Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, with Dave Vilhauer leading the service. A luncheon and time of fellowship will immediately follow the service at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

Friends may sign his online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.

Memorials are preferred by the family in lieu of flowers.

Kelup Jay Lechner was born on August 9, 1964, in Aberdeen, SD, to Leslie and Goldie (Lahmann) Lechner. He attended school in Aberdeen and earned his GED.

Kelup was united in marriage to Dawn Burkel on June 18, 1999, at Chapel in the Hills in Rapid City, SD. Their union was blessed with two sons and a daughter. The family made their home in Aberdeen, where Kelup worked at various places including Budget Furniture, The Boston Fern and Jacobs Construction before becoming self employed with his own lawn care and snow removal business.

Kelup enjoyed paintball games, watching Westerns, gardening, fishing, hunting, camping and anything outdoors.

Survivors include his wife, Dawn Lechner, son, Joshua Lechner, and daughter, Megan Lechner, all of Aberdeen; parents, Leslie and Goldie Lechner of Aberdeen; brothers, Kevin Lechner of Groton, SD and Kelan (Patty) Lechner of Aberdeen; father-in-law, Carl Burkel of Huron, SD; brothers-in-law, Thomas (Dawn) Burkel of Alpena, SD and James (Billie Jo) of Cavour, SD; sister-in-law, Jody (Greg) Spaugh of Raleigh, NC; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Kelup is preceded in death by his son, Bryce; paternal & maternal grandparents; mother-in-law, Dianna Burkel; and several aunts and uncles.