Luebben, Ralph A. 1921-2009

LUEBBEN, WEBER, LIED

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/5/2014 at 11:59:49

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Oct. 2009

RALPH A. LUEBBEN

Ralph A. Luebben, 88, of Grinnell died Oct. 19, 2009,at the Mayflower Community in Grinnell.

A graveside service and burial was held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell with Rev. Kathryn Roys, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, officiating.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice, Mayflower Community, or St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell.

Ralph was born Feb. 14, 1921, in Milwaukee, Wisc., the son of Gerhard and Katherine Weber Luebben. He studied engineering at Purdue University. During World War II, he served with a field artillery observation battalion in the European Theater and, following the German surrender, was reassigned to an engineering unit in the Army of Occupation.

On Aug. 30, 1947, he was united in marriage to Janell Lied. Later, degrees in anthropology from the University of New Mexico and Cornell University led to an academic career, most of which was spent at Grinnell College. His archeological and ethnological interests were primarily in the American Southwest and Northern Mexico.

Survivors include his wife, Janell of Grinnell. He was preceded in death by his parents.