Ruth Luedke

Ruth Luedke, age 94, of Colony, Kansas, went home to the Lord on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at the Anderson County Hospital. She was born in Chardon, Kansas, on May 27, 1917, the daughter of Norton and Emily (Gatlin) Finley. Ruth grew up in Atwood and graduated from Atwood High School. She graduated from Business School in Topeka, Kansas, before going to work as a bookkeeper for Niswonger Hay and Grain in Atwood. This is where she met her uncle's nephew, Robert J. Luedke. On September 12, 1942, Ruth and Robert eloped and married in Pittsburg, Kansas. This union was blessed with five children. They lived in Colony and Atwood, but finally settled in Colony, Kansas in 1958. While Robert served in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1945, they lived in Kentucky and Texas. Ruth was a homemaker, and babysitter to many children in the Colony area. She was a member of the Colony Christian Church and she also belonged to the Jolly Dozen Club. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert J. Luedke on May 6, 2009; her son Gary Luedke; grandson Brian; granddaughter Michelle; and two brothers, Fred and Don Finley Ruth leaves behind her sons, Ron Luedke and wife Pat of Garnett, Kansas; Jerry Luedke and wife Susan of Colony; Glen Luedke and wife Sheila of Mandeville, Louisiana; her daughter Joyce Collins and husband Terry of Wathena, Kansas; ten grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one brother, Jack Finley and wife Doris of Atwood, Kansas; and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Colony, Kansas. Interment will follow in the Colony Cemetery. The family will greet friends at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. She will lie in state from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Colony funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Colony Christian Church.