Ludeking, Arnold Lelan 1931-2008

LUDEKING, ADAM, ANDREWS, REICKS, HAGEMAN, MEYER, REINHART

Posted By: Jill McCarville (email)
Date: 9/4/2013 at 10:49:37

Arnold Ludeking, 76

Funeral services for Arnold L. Ludeking of Ridgeway, IA will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at the Cresco United Methodist Church in Cresco. Interment will be in Salem United Church of Christ Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2008.

Friends may call at the Lindstrom Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday evening and one hour prior to services at the church.

Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco, IA is handling the arrangements.

Arnold, 76, died Sunday, January 6, 2008, at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco after an eight month battle with cancer.

Arnold Lelan Ludeking was born on April 10, 1931 in Allamakee County, IA, the son of Clarence and Martha (Adam) Ludeking. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon, IA, and graduated from Decorah High School in 1950. He enlisted in the Airforce on August 1, 1951 and held the rank of Airman First Class. He served his country for 13 months as a mechanic in the motor pool in Korea and was honorably discharged on July 31, 1955.

On April 23, 1955 he married Sally Andres in the United Methodist Church in Whittemore, MI. They moved to rural Ridgeway in 1956 where they lived and farmed for 51 years. To this union three children were born: Gary, Deborah, and Scott.

Arnie attended the United Methodist Church in Cresco and had served on the church council. He was also a Farm Bureau member and served as a Director for Winneshiek Mutual Insurance in Decorah. He was a dedicated member of the "Rabbit Club" that was held at the old Cliff House in Decorah.

Arnie was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, and golfing. He also had a passion for conservation and planted thousands of trees during his lifetime, both in Iowa and Michigan. Arnie also loved to laugh and visit with friends and family. He enjoyed sharing hunting stories with family and his numerous hunting buddies. He also enjoyed a challenging game of golf, and hit a hole in one at the Cresco Country Club on June 21, 2006. Arnie was innovative in both farming and his numerous interests. He built and flew a gyrocopter and built an airboat. He was known to everyone as a man who never quit. He focused his energy on whatever he wanted to accomplish until he was successful. He loved his family and especially enjoyed his grandchildren.

Arnie is survived by his wife Sally of 52 years; three children: Gary and Mary (Reicks) of rural Ridgeway IA, Dan and Deb Hageman of rural Ossian, IA, and Scott and Carla (Meyer) of rural Cresco, IA; eight granchildren: Andy and Mike Ludeking; Matt, Mitch and Adam Hageman; and Hunter, Rachael and Gunner Ludeking; two brothers: Dervin and (Luella) Ludeking and Ron Ludeking of Decorah; and one sister: Joan (Robert) Reinhart of Pocahontas, IA, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parent; and one sister-in-law: Georgia Ludeking.

Times Plain Dealer January 9,2008
Transcribed by Jill McCarville from the files of Janice Sowers