Lussman, Darwin "Dusty" (1932-2016)

LUSSMAN, MOHR, HARTMAN, ARMSTRONG, REIS, BETTIN, SUHR, KOEDAM, HARMAN

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/22/2016 at 17:14:50

Darwin "Dusty" Lussman
February 25, 1932 - October 8, 2016

Darwin "Dusty" Lussman, age 84, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.

Dusty, a son of Edward and Anna (Mohr) Lussman, was born on February 25, 1932, in Grant Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Buena Vista County and later confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Dusty, as he was known to those who loved him, cherished living on the family farm for over eighty years. From his youth, he, fondly, remembered attending country school through the seventh grade via pony or buggy, driving horses to make hay, racing ponies with his siblings and neighbors, and chasing gophers around the pasture in his Model T. In 1950, he graduated from Sulphur Springs Providence Consolidated School.

Drafted into the Army in 1952, Darwin served at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Ft. Riley, Kansas. In addition, he participated in the first mock atomic bomb response held on US soil. After having attained the rank of Sergeant, he was honorably discharged. He, then, returned home to farm until he retired in the 1990s.

On February 23, 1958, Darwin married the love of his life, Joanne Hartman, at Sioux Valley, Minnesota. Subsequently, they were blessed with five children.

Dusty treasured his faith. An active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, he especially enjoyed serving as a trustee and member of the Evangelism Committee. As he grew older, he was very grateful to fellow members who assisted him in getting to church every Sunday.

A lifetime member of AMVETS and DAV, he served as commander of AMVETS Post #66 for seven years. In the Honor Guard for forty-eight years, he, also, served as commander for twenty of those years. Passionately maintaining that local veterans who passed away should receive final military rites, he participated in over 250 such ceremonies throughout the entire county.

A member of the American Bell Association, Dusty cherished the camaraderie of “hunting for bells” with Joanne. He felt honored to ring in Iowa’s Sesquicentennial at the Capitol with a town crier bell manufactured by the White Chapel Company, the same company that made our Liberty Bell.

Dusty served as secretary treasurer of the bowling league for fifteen years. He, also, belonged to the Oliver Hart Parr Collectors Association, collectors of the “real” green tractor. He liked the 88 Oliver Diesel best. His favorite cars included his ’21 Ford Model T, his ’54 Ford, and his ’65 Ford Mustang convertible. His favorite card game was cribbage. He used his artistic talent to create unique folk art from metal, wood, and scraps for his church, family, and friends. Most of all, however, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Having been blessed with a great sense of humor and dealt good cards and joy in life, Dusty will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children: Mark (Darlene) Lussman, of Storm Lake, Iowa, Carolyn (Glen) Armstrong, of Albert City, Iowa, Sarah Lussman (Lori Stirn), of Hood River, Oregon, Nadine Lussman (Wouter Koedam), of Arzier, Switzerland, and Connie (Curt) Reis, of Storm Lake, Iowa; his grandchildren: Matt (Sara) Lussman, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Jeff (Angie) Lussman, of Storm Lake, Iowa, Jessica (Scott) Bettin, of Holstein, Iowa, Randi Armstrong (special friend, Keegan Paul), of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kerri (Josh) Suhr, of Storm Lake, Iowa, Ivonne and Isabelle Koedam, of Arzier, Switzerland, Chris (Jenni) Reis, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Caycee Reis (special friend, Adam Schmidt), of Le Mars, Iowa; his great grandchildren: Camille Bettin; Adysen, Brigham, Easton, and Kiptyn Lussman; Blaine and Chloe Suhr; his brother, Willis (Lorna) Lussman, of Storm Lake, Iowa; and his sister, Arta (John) Harman, of Corydon, Iowa. Darwin was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joanne; and his brother, Harold Lussman.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake with full military rites by the AMVETS Post #66. Visitation will take place Tuesday, October 11, 2016, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.

Less than a day after Dusty’s passing, his brother, Willis Lussman, passed away.

Copyright © 2016, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes

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