Don D. Luetkeman
Funeral services for Don D. Luetkeman, 71,
of Cherokee, formerly of Aurelia, will be Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at
11:00 A.M. at the St. John’s Church rural Peterson, IA., with Pastor
Michael Hyde officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 until
8:00 P.M. at the church. The Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge
of arrangements.
Don died on Saturday, May 8, 2010, at the
Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Don Dean Luetkeman was born July 18, 1938,
the son of Leonard and Mabel (Amendt) Luetkeman in Cherokee, IA. He
graduated from Brooke High School in 1956 and from Buena Vista College
in Storm Lake in 1960. Don then taught school at Ida Grove Community
Schools from 1960 to 1964. He married Judith Christensen at the
Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, IA on June 14, 1964. After their
marriage they moved nine miles north of Aurelia and farmed until they
semi-retired to Cherokee, IA in 2004. Don was a lifelong member of St.
John’s Church where he was baptized and confirmed. He served many
offices of the church and was youth group leader and Sunday school
teacher. He proudly served on the Aurelia Community School board,
Farmer’s Co-op Board in Aurelia and Cherokee County Board of
Adjustment.
Don enjoyed life to the fullest. Family was
his first priority. His never ending guidance and support for his family
was one of his greatest assets. He loved dancing with Judy, his wife of
almost 46 years, and traveling to Florida every winter with her. It was
there that many new friendships were made. Don took great pride in his
love for the land by being a steward of the soil and planting many
windbreaks. He was one of the first in this area to experiment with
no-till farming. He also enjoyed raising cattle. Somehow Don could
always make time to fish with family and his many friends.
Preceding Don in death were his parents, son
Brian Luetkeman, and his brother Dale Luetkeman on July 20, 2008.
Survivors include his wife Judith of
Cherokee, one son, Bill and his wife Kim Luetkeman of Aurelia, one
daughter, Ann and her husband Dale Clark of Blair, NE, three
granddaughters, Brooke Luetkeman and Erika and Ashley Clark, one sister,
Lorraine K. Lee of Dumfries, VA, two sisters-in-law, Alex Luetkeman of
Aurelia and Julia and her husband Al Severt of West Des Moines, IA,
nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.
