GIRARD — Martin Lawrence Kichler, 87, of Girard went to be with the Lord at 3:50 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, in the Girard Medical Center.

He was born Feb. 14, 1924, in Haven to Tony and Mary (Roth) Kichler. He attended schools in Haven before moving to Girard as a young man and lived there the remainder of his life.

He served in the Army during World War II from April 19, 1944, until he was honorably discharged on May 15, 1946. He received the American, European, African, Middle Eastern and Asiatic Pacific Theater ribbons and many more medals.

He married Mary Frances Holland on June 15, 1947, at Brazilton. She preceded him in death on Jan. 30, 2005.

He was employed by the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons, the Crawford County Road and Bridge crew and Producers Coop of Girard. He was a longtime Crawford County businessman, operating the Texaco Filling Station, Kichler’s Safety Service, both of Girard, and the Girard Recycling Service. He was a longtime farmer and rancher in Girard.

Mr. Kichler enjoyed the time he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed many years of raising cattle and horses.

He was a member and past elder of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Steven Bennefeld Post No. 7479, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the George C. Brown Post No. 26, American Legion, all of Girard.

He helped with organizing the Rural Water District No. 1 and the Crawford County Township Fire Department.

Survivors include his daughters, Karen McGown and her husband, Warren, of McCune and Diane Call and her husband, Tom, of Girard; his sons, Darrel Kichler and his wife, Donna, of Towanda, Larry Kichler and his wife, Connie, of Sherwood, Ark., Dennis Kichler and his wife, Pam, of Ottawa, and Steve Kichler of Girard; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Cora Swift of Frontenac, Katherine Wulf, Mildred Holloway and Florence Willey, all of Grove, Okla.; a brother, Arnold Kichler of McCune; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Aaron Kichler; his sisters, Anna Price, Alfrieda Strouse and Mary Lentz; a brother, Pete Kichler; and an infant brother.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Girard with Pastor Mark Wenzelburger officiating. Burial will be in Girard Cemetery with military honors conducted by his grandson-in-law, Jeffrey Fisher, with the Kansas National Guard Military Honors Team and the George C. Brown Post No. 26, American Legion, of Girard.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard where friends may call after 1 p.m. Sunday.

Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church and these may be left at the church or the funeral home, 518 W St. John, P.O. Box 258, Girard, 66743.

Condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com.