A.J. Wachter's Obituary
A.J. Wachter 83, of Pittsburg, KS died 11:38pm Sunday June 7, 2026 at his home following a short illness.
A. J. was born December 24, 1942 in Pittsburg, KS the son of Andrew Joseph and Dorothy Ursala (Matarazzi) Wachter. He was a lifelong resident of Pittsburg, graduating from St. Mary’s High School and Pittsburg State University. He later earned his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Washburn University in Topeka, KS. In addition, A. J. was in the United States Army Reserves serving from 1961-1969.
On June 10, 1967, A. J. married Mary Susan Witt at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg, KS. They were to celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary this week. She survives at the home.
A.J. worked in private law practice from 1969 to 2002 with the Wilbert and Towner Law Firm in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was a former president of the Crawford County Bar Association. He was appointed by Governor Bill Graves in 2002 as Kansas District Judge for the 11th Judicial District serving Cherokee, Labette and Crawford counties. He served on the bench for 15 years, including 4 years as Chief Judge, until his retirement in 2017.
A.J. was a member of the Pittsburg State University football team from 1963-1966. He was inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 for Meritorious Achievement. He was a lifetime supporter of PSU Athletics and shared many lifetime friendships with his teammates and coaches.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Patrick Wachter, Shawn Wachter and Brian Wachter; brothers, John Wachter and Bill Wachter and wife Mary Kay; grandchildren, Devin Wachter, A.J. Wachter and Hyland Wachter and numerous nieces and nephews.
A.J. was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Susan Wachter.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00am Friday, June12th, 2026, at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg, KS with Fr. Michael Simone as celebrant. Burial will follow at Highland Park Cemetery in Pittsburg, KS. Rosary will be recited at 6:00pm Thursday, June 11th, 2026, at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg, KS; family will receive friends immediately following the rosary at the church. Friends may call the funeral home after 2:00pm Thursday. In lieu of flowers the family asks expressions of sympathy to be in the form of memorials to the Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Fund and/or PSU Athletics. Friends may drop off or mail memorials to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, KS 66762. Condolences may be left at http://www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.
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