Motorcycles were a family hobby for victim of Buffalo Grove crash

Mike Lechner received his first minibike when he was 8 years old and motorcycling grew from there as an activity he shared with his family.

"It's just something that we do," said his father, also named Michael Lechner, of Wisconsin.

The 23-year-old Lechner died early Sunday morning after his Suzuki GSXR TL1000 motorcycle collided with a car in Buffalo Grove on Buffalo Grove Road near Old Oak Drive.

Buffalo Grove police continue to investigate, and no citations have been issued.

Lechner is remembered as a family man. He leaves behind a fiancee, Cheryl Puckelwartz, whom he met working as a warehouse manager in Wauconda. He lived in Buffalo Grove with his grandmother Laverne May and took care of her. The willingness for a 23-year-old to help his grandmother showed how special Lechner was, his family said. He lived in the house for many years and also helped take care of his grandfather John May, who died in 2007.

"He helped everybody. If you needed something, Michael would be there," said stepfather Scott Goldufsky of Mundelein.

Lechner attended Buffalo Grove High School but left before graduation, though he did earn his GED. "He was very independent," Goldufsky said.

Lechner, who had an English bulldog, maintained a close relationship with his mother, Rhonda, and he loved to spend time with his nephews and nieces.

"He was just a real likable kid," his father said. "He wasn't high maintenance or anything like that."

Motorbikes were a large part of Lechner's life, and he enjoyed riding with friends.

"They were a very tight-knit group of friends," Goldufsky said.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Burnett-Dane Funeral Home Ltd., 120 W. Park Ave. in Libertyville. Arrangements for the funeral were still being completed Monday. For details, call (847) 362-3009.