Luthard Schmidtke

Luthard Schmidtke, of  Montevideo, died on Friday, April 27, 2001 at the Clarkfield Care Center at the age of 83.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, May 1, 2001 at 1:30 PM at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Montevideo with Rev. Richard Hamlow officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday afternoon and evening with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Luthard Schmidtke was born on October 24, 1917 in Sparta Township of Chippewa County, MN to Herman and Helen (Schmidt) Schmidtke.  He was baptized on November 18, 1917 and confirmed on Sept. 6, 1931 at St. Johns Lutheran Church and attended school at District #7.  On November 3, 1938 he was united in marriage to Irene Garrison - Pipke at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Omro Township.  He farmed in Sparta Township until retiring and enjoyed a 36 year affiliation as a Renk’s Seed Corn Dealer.  He has been a resident of the Clarkfield Care Center since January, 2001.  He was a 30 year member of the Sparta Town Board.  Luthard was fascinated with the ever changing weather and  enjoyed being a KSAX weather watcher for about the past 10 years.  He was currently a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church and its Men’s Club.  During the 1950's & 1960's he was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo, where he served as Sunday School Superintendent, taught Confirmation, was on the Building Committee and served on the Church Board.  Anyone who knew Luthard would know he was a talker and loved to visit.  He always had a story to tell that in some way related to the particular subject being discussed.  The storyteller’s voice has been silenced but both he and his stories will live on in our hearts and minds forever.

He is survived by his wife, Irene; one son, Kenneth Schmidtke and his wife Jan of Montevideo, MN; one daughter, LuElla Petersen of Montevideo, MN; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Laurene Leppke of Lee’s Summit, MO.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant grandson, Kenneth L. Schmidtke, Jr.; two brothers: Reinhard and Alfred Schmidtke; and one daughter-in-law, Faye Schmidtke.