James W. Luedtke

James William Luedtke, 90, was called home to his Heavenly Father on June 13, 2017. Jim is preceded in death by his parents, William and Bertha Luedtke, his sister, Elsie Braatz, his brothers, Alfred and Herbert Luedtke, and son-in-law David Reimann. He is survived by Audrey, his loving wife of 65 years; his children: Debbie Alter (Tony), Becky Kirkpatrick (Keith), Mary Jo Reimann, Rachel Gahr (Matt), Elizabeth Moreau (Kermit), and Laurie Strege (Jon); grandchildren: Erin Alter, Ericka Alten (Tim), and Adam Alter; Jamie Kirkpatrick (Angela) and Meghan Manilla (Brad); Kimberly Bartok (Jim), Taralyn Reimann, Tim Reimann (Kari), and Malia Crowley (Joe); Bethany Phillips (Joey), Sam and Joel Gahr; Leah, Audrey, and Jake Moreau; Tori and Tia Strege; great grandchildren: Savannah, Hendrix, Finch, Wren, Coralyn, James, Audrey, Sadie, Tessa, Aiden, and Oliver; and by his brother Charles. Jim, a lifelong lover of Christ, was baptized into the Christian faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wausau, Wisconsin. He graduated from Concordia Teacher’s College, River Forest, Illinois in 1950 with his BA in Education and received his Master of Administration from the same in 1978. Jim was a supply teacher in Ocheyedan, Iowa from 1947-1949. He was called to teach at Gethsemane Lutheran School, St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1950-1959 and also at Webster Gardens Lutheran School in Webster Groves, Missouri from 1959-1966. Jim was called as an educational missionary in Hong Kong from 1966 to 1977 as headmaster at Concordia Anglo-Chinese Secondary School. He also served as an educational missionary in Caracas, Venezuela from 1978 to 1980. He returned to the United States and was called as Minister of Christian Education by the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Hazelwood, MO as a teacher to Atonement Lutheran School in Florissant. He retired from teaching in 1990. He was a compassionate man with a heart for God. He will be remembered as a loving husband, wonderful father, and grandad extraordinaire; also as a LCMS Lutheran Service Volunteer, elder, lector, Bible study leader, youth leader, school bus driver, organist, baby grand piano rehab-er, polka-lover, gardener, sportsman, piano musician, conversationalist, game-inventor, rental property owner, and college and family barber. Jim was passionate about spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and touched countless people with his heart of service and passion for youth, outreach, and music. Special thanks goes to the many caregivers in his life, especially in recent months. His presence and smile will be deeply missed by all who love him. Visitation will be Friday, June 16th from 4-8 at Hutchens Mortuary & Cremation Center, 675 Graham Rd, Florissant, MO 63031. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 Saturday, June 17th at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, 11645 Benham Rd, St Louis, MO 63136. Memorials can be made in Jim’s honor to Chapel of the Cross-Lutheran. Family will designate the gifts to a variety of missions.

James W. Luedtke

May 25, 1927 - June 13, 2017