Thursday, July 11th, 2019
Richard Luken
Richard "Red" Luken, age 92 of Coldwater passed away on July 10, 2019 at Briarwood Village, Coldwater.
He was born November 1, 1926 at home to the late Harry & Philamina (Post) Luken. On December 15, 1984 he married Louise (Haye) Stombaugh at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan, Ohio. They were married 27 years.
Preceding him in death was his loving wife Louise in 2012, two brothers; Don in 1998 and Paul in 1999, and sister, Lucille Westgerdes in 2015. Also preceded in death by step-sons Gary Stombaugh and Bill & Marie Stombaugh, in-laws; Ed Westgerdes Jr., Vincent Haye, Evelyn & Harlan Knapp, Marguerite & Al Siebenthaler, Pauline & Myrl Zimmerman, and Harmon & Wilda Haye.
He is survived by in-laws, Ed & Sharon Hay of Bradenton, Florida, nephew, Dan & Phyllis Westgerdes of St. Henry, nieces, Carol & Duane Puthoff of Celina, and Sharon & Ron McBride of Dayton; 8 great-nieces and nephews, step-son, Jack & Norma Stombaugh, 8 step-grandchildren and many step-great grandchildren.
Red graduated in 1945 from Coldwater High School. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He proudly served in the US Army during WW2 in Germany, after training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Red attended schools in Romilly, France and Frankfurt, Germany and then was assigned to the 53MP in Bad Nauheim, Germany, where the Lichfield trials were held.
He attained the rank of 1st Staff Sergeant and after discharge December, 1946, He joined New Idea (Avco Corp) and attended school for method engineering. He was first assigned to New Idea in Sandwich, Illinois. In January of 1948 Red transferred back to Coldwater New Idea. He spent 23 years at New Idea, 6 years as a supervisor. For the following 19 years he was plant manager at Pax Steel Products in Coldwater.
Red was co-founder of the Friday Night Softball League in Coldwater. He also served on the City Council and was a life member of the Mercer County Elks, Coldwater American Legion and VFW Post 5135, where he was a past commander.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 am Saturday July 13, 2019 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Coldwater. Burial with military rights will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater.
Friends may call from 2-7 pm Friday and from 9-10 am on Saturday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Coldwater.
Contributions may be made to the State of the Heart Hospice or the Briarwood Activity Fund.
Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.
