Vera Margaret Luedtke

Vera Margaret Luedtke, 96, died Monday, June 8, 2009, at the Jefferson County Health Center.

A funeral service will be Friday, June 12, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Fairfield, IA, with Rev. Marvin Robeck officiating. Behner Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements, and family visitation will be Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield.

Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield, or to the donor's choice. Cards and memorials may be sent c/o:
1938 185th Street
Fairfield, IA 52556

Mrs. Luedtke was born November 23, 1912, at Germanville in northeast Jefferson County, the daughter of John Adam and Katie Miller Burger. She attended rural Jefferson County schools before attending Lockridge High School for 2 years, and then graduating from Fairfield High School in 1931 with a Normal Training Certificate. She taught Jefferson County rural schools for 3 years - Walnut #4, Blackhawk #8, and Penn #9.

She married August Martin Luedtke on May 3, 1934, at the Burger family home 6 miles northeast of Fairfield with Pastor J.L. Seitzinger of Hope Lutheran Church officiating. He died January 12, 1986.

They began their married life farming near Four Corners for 8 years, before moving 3 miles northwest of Fairfield, where they farmed for 44 years. She resided at Calu Apartments for 6 years before moving to Parkview Care Center for the past 8 months.

Mrs. Luedtke was a homemaker, assisting on the family farm throughout her married life. She maintained a large garden, enjoyed cooking and baking, sewing, flowers, playing cards, family reunions and family history. She had attended 90 annual Burger family reunions including the 2008 reunion.

She was the oldest member of First Lutheran Church and had sewed daily making quilts, lap robes, and various other church missionary projects until her move to Parkview Care Center. She was also the last surviving member of the neighborhood ladies Maple Leaf Club northwest of Fairfield.

Surviving is one son, Gene, and wife Louise, plus grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, James in 1979, and three sisters: Edith Gilbert in 1970, Louise I. Schillerstrom in 2007, and Ruth Wiggins in 2008.