Ludwigs, Hilbert J. 1918-2004

LUDWIGS, BORCHERS, BONNEMA

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer
Date: 4/15/2007 at 16:17:38

LE MARS, Iowa -- Hilbert Ludwigs, 86, of Le Mars died Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, at Brentwood Good Samaritan Center in Le Mars.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church E.L.C.A. in Le Mars, with the Rev. Gary Landsness officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Wasmer Post 241 of Le Mars. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Hilbert J. Ludwigs was born Feb. 19, 1918, on the family farm in Grant Township, rural Plymouth County, Iowa, to Gerd and Helene (Borchers) Ludwigs. Hilbert was baptized into the Lutheran faith at Christ Lutheran Church, Grant Township. He was later confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars. He graduated from Le Mars Central High School in 1934.

Hilbert worked on farms in Grant Township, Everly and Cleghorn, Iowa, before returning back to work on the family farm. He then went to work for Skelly Oil and Hibbing Motor Co. in Le Mars.

Hilbert was united in marriage to Evelyn Bonnema on May 10, 1942, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Later that year, Hilbert joined the U.S. Army and served with the Army Ordnance 899th Heavy Automotive Maintenance Co. in the parts department. He was then transferred to the 330th Ordnance Service Detachment. He served in the China-Burma-India Theater from 1943 to December 1945 as a parts expediter at Assam, India, based at Chabua Airport. After his honorable discharge in December 1945, Hilbert returned to Le Mars and went to work for Coast to Coast until 1950. He then became a partner in Decker & Ludwigs City Service from 1950 to 1955. In later years, Hilbert worked for Whelan Motors, Shull Ford and Hayes Motor Co. in South Sioux City until his retirement in 1979.

Hilbert was a longtime member of St. John's Lutheran Church and had assisted with the offering recording for more than 20 years.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn of Le Mars; three daughters, Dianne and her husband, Ed Roepke of Gonvick, Minn., Karen Connelly of League City, Texas, and Kathy Carlson of Winona, Minn.; two brothers and sisters-in-law, George and Irene Ludwigs of Le Mars, and Gerd and Phyllis Ludwigs of Akron, Iowa; a sister, Zelma McCune of Phoenix, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John Ludwigs; a sister, Catherine Gellerman; and a grandson, David Carlson.

Pallbearers will be Shannon Roepke, Shane Roepke, Samuel Roepke, Skip Roepke, Thomas Carlson, Adam Carlson, Daniel Carlson, Matthew Carlson, Troy Connelly and Lance Cpl. Timothy Connelly.

[Part of the Darrell Eason Obituary Collection; source:Sioux City Journal]