Richard "Dick" W. Ludke, 81, Chilton, Wis., died Wednesday Nov. 11, 2009, at Chilton Care Center.
He was born March 13, 1928, at Silver Creek, son of the late Carl and Helen (Kohn) Ludke. He married Eleanor M. Anderson on Dec. 19, 1948, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Almena.
He worked in the retail feed business all of his life, starting with Ludke Feed Service, Almena. He then owned and operated a Ralston Purina feed mill in Lodi for eight years until 1973, when he moved to Chilton. There he became the mill manager for the Chilton Co-op, where he worked for 20 years until his 1993 retirement.
Dick enjoyed woodworking, cooking, fishing, church life and cooking for his family. He was a member of St. Martin Lutheran Church, Chilton, St. Martin Men's Bible Study and Chilton Lions Club. Dick was an active church and community member, serving in various offices and capacities in all of the communities in which he lived.
Survivors include his wife, the love of his life; children, Cindy (Mike) Meade of Milwaukee, Laurie (Dale) Johnson and Julie (Joe) Clark, both of Lodi, Dawn (Dave) Schmidt and R.C. (Laurie), both of Chilton; a daughter-in-law, Ginny Ludke of Lodi; grandchildren, Michael J. Meade, Jason (Summer) Meade, Chad (Joy) Files, Jared Files, Josiah Ludke, C.J. (Cathy) Davis, Kaitlyn Scott, Peter Clark, Adam Clark, Dylan Schmidt, Dayna Schmidt and Olivia Ludke; four great-grandchildren, along with triplet boys and a baby girl on the way; and his loyal four-legged friend, Ed.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Lynn. Dick was the youngest of 13 children and was preceded in death by 12 siblings.
Services were held at noon Saturday, Nov. 14, from St. Martin Lutheran Church (717 Memorial Dr.), Chilton, with Rev. Wayne Huebner officiating and burial at Hillside Cemetery.
Visitation was held 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the church Saturday.
A memorial fund has been established in the name of Richard Ludke for St. Martin Lutheran Church and the Chilton Lions Club.
Online condolences may be offered at www.wietingfuneralhome.com.
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