Lewis J. "Lew" Fruchtl, 81, of Grand Island died Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha.
Lew's wishes were to be cremated.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Revs. James R. Golka and Thomas A. Ryan will concelebrate the funeral Mass. Private family inurnment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation and a vigil service were Thursday at Curran Funeral Chapel. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's Cathedral. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.
Lew was born on Jan. 5, 1937, at Lancaster, Pa. He was the son of Lewis and Mathilda (Wendell) Fruchtl.
Lew grew up in Lancaster, Pa., attending St. Joseph's Grade School and graduating from Lancaster Catholic High School in 1954. He continued his education at Penn State, graduating with his engineering degree in 1956. He began his employment with Sperry New Holland as a trainee in June 1954 and became a permanent full-time employee in 1956.
Lew married Nancy L. Twardowski on April 19, 1958, in Reading, Pa. They lived in Reading and later Lancaster, Pa. Lew was transferred to the Grand Island plant in 1965. He retired as quality control manager from New Holland in 1993. He helped the plant with special projects for several years after his retirement, and in 1999 he began giving guided tours. Lew also owned and operated LJF Consulting. He founded the local Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SMF) and received numerous awards, including the Award of Merit in 1993. He served as a past Grand Island United Way board member.
Lew was an active member of St. Mary's Cathedral, serving as office and business manager at the church for six years. He was instrumental in fundraising monies for Cathedral Square. He was a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus.

Lew was passionate about fishing and loved to fish in Minnesota and Canada. He was a tour guide for "The Walleye Connection" and guided trips to Lake of the Woods, Minn., several times a year. He enjoyed hunting and was also a fan of horse racing and Husker football.
He will be remembered by his children and their spouses, Steve Fruchtl of Russellville, Ark., Diane (Darrell) Kile of Superior, Karen Overfield of Beatrice, Dennis (Rosie) Fruchtl of Grand Island and Douglas Fruchtl of Lincoln; a brother, Vincent Fruchtl of Lancaster, Pa.; a sister, Ave (Donnie) Eckman of Willow Street, Pa. Others left to cherish his memory include his grandchildren and spouses, McKinzie Fruchtl, Kameron (Ashtin) Fruchtl, Matthew (Markee) Kile, Leslie (Brett) Behrends, Megan Overfield, Austin "A.J." (Jessica) Fruchtl and Blake Fruchtl; and great-grandchildren, Brynley and Baylor Behrends, Chamberlyn Fruchtl and Stetson Kile.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nancy, in January 2017; a son, Tim Fruchtl; and a brother, Carl Fruchtl.