Clara Mary Lechman Lockwood Obituary
Clara Mary Lechman Lockwood, longtime Apache Junction resident, died on December 16, 2017 at the age of 93. She was born June 16, 1923 in Sheridan, Wyoming, the child of Adam Alexander and Pauline Jacobs Lechman. Soon after Clara’s birth the family moved to the town of Sterling, CO where they farmed before settling in Ovid, CO, in the NE corner of Colorado, following the movements of many descendants of Germans from Russia.
Clara and her family moved to Denver, Colorado in 1946. In 1978, Clara and Gil Lockwood retired to the Apache Villa Community in Apache Junction, AZ, where they enjoyed all of the Villa activities – from dinners to hiking to social events. Clara joined St. George Roman Catholic Parish and was a devout parishioner. She was a member of Our Lady of the Desert Guild, serving as past president.
Clara is survived by her children, Judy Gareis of Apache Junction, AZ, Alan (Sherry) Roach of Bixby, OK, and daughter-in-law Cathy Gareis of Broken Arrow, OK; her grandchildren, J. Scott (Julie) Gareis of Bixby, OK and Sarah (Kevin) Launchbaugh of Tulsa, OK; and her great grandchildren, J. Abram and Alexis Gareis and Reese and Finnegan Launchbaugh. Her surviving siblings are Dolores Sanger, Vincent (Georgene) Lechman of Greeley, CO, Stanley Lechman, Leanne (Michael) Thoma, Gary (Henri) Lechman, Kathy (Bob) Truitt all of Denver, CO, and Rebecca (Larry) Gette of Oshkosh, NE; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Clara was preceded in death by her husband, Gilford L. Lockwood; her son, Bernard J. Gareis; her parents, Adam, Pauline, and step-mother Regina Lechman; her sisters, Catherine A. Frank and Janet A. Lechman; and her brothers, Elmer C. Lechman, Raymond Lechman, Edward Sanger, and William Lechman.
Mrs. Lockwood’s final arrangements have been entrusted to Superstition Cremation & Funeral Services in Apache Junction, AZ.