Clarence Henry Lechner

Clarence Henry “Snags” Lechner, 91, passed away Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, while awaiting treatment for internal bleeding at Mercy Hospital in Springfield.
Born on Feb. 21, 1930, in Verona, Lechner was the youngest of seven children and son of Edward and Carolena (Seitnater) Lechner. He was a 1948 graduate of Verona High School. After high school, Lechner married the late Wanda Mae Haddock on June 16, 1951, at Sacred Heart Church, in Verona. The couple later moved to Aurora, where he found work at Wilkes Lumber and Shade Tree.
Lechner played semi-pro baseball as third baseman for the Aurora Redbirds, as well as another team in Arkansas. He was so good that he was invited to attend spring training for the Chicago Cubs but was later cut from the team after it was discovered he had a bad knee and couldn’t slide into bases.
 He was the first to organize the Aurora Booster Club and was a scorekeeper for Aurora football and basketball games. He was also instrumental in founding the Aurora Little League and Mighty Mites organizations. In recognition of his efforts, he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
Lechner served with distinction in the Missouri National Guard for 33 years, where he was a recruiter, mentor, administrator, and leader. During his tenure in the Guard, he was instrumental in getting the current Aurora armory built and transferring ownership of the old armory to the Aurora School District. Lechner also owned and operated several Aurora businesses including a sporting goods store and a health spa/exercise club. His last business was Lechner Silk Screen, which he co-owned and operated with his son, Randy.
In recognition of his years of community service and fundraising, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce awarded him their highest honor in 2019, the Community Service Award. He was also recently inducted into the Houn’ Dawg Hall of Fame this past September and, together with his wife, Wanda, were named Grand Marshalls of the Aurora Houn’ Dawg Festival parade in 1996.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lena Lechner, wife, Wanda Mae (Haddock) Lechner, brothers Ed “Cook” Lechner, Bernard “Bun” Lechner, and Robert “Bob” Earl Lechner, his sisters, Dorothy Smith, Betty Kelsey, and Stella Montgomery.
He is survived by his children, Angie Toben (Buzz), Springfield; Randy Lechner, Aurora; Stan Lechner (Linda), Springfield; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, was held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Aurora. Burial followed at the Calvary Cemetery in Verona. Rosary was held from 6-6:30 p.m. with visitation that followed from 6:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in the funeral home chapel.
Memorial donation can be made to the Holy Trinity Catholic Church for the Stations of the Cross Project in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.CraftonCantrellFuneralHome.com.