Funeral services for John Roger Luethje, 76, of Roca will be Thursday, July 29 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 7130 Kentwell Lane in Lincoln at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Jim Keyser officiating. Internment will precede the service at the Waco Cemetery in Waco at 10:30 a.m.
John was born January 27, 1934 to John William and Doris Celia (Sandall) Luethje at York. He graduated from Waco High School in 1951 and from the University of Nebraska College of Business Administration in 1955. He married (Lydia) Charlotte Hirschfeld on August 9, 1954 at Grace United Methodist Church in Lincoln. After graduating he worked in Broken Bow, Grand Island and Lincoln as a CPA. He was appointed the first State Accountant for the State of Nebraska. Later he was comptroller for King’s Food Host and SRI.
After his public career, he entered private family business with the operation of Arby’s restaurants in Lincoln. Following his retirement he enjoyed family, travel, reading and entertaining family and friends.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Lincoln. John also was a member of Acacia Fraternity, Norden Club, Friendship Force and Hummel Club.
John passed away on Sunday, July 25, 2010 at the Monarch in Lincoln. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Charlotte (Hirschfeld) Luethje; children John H. and Charlene Luethje of Lincoln, Jim Luethje of Roca, Janelle Spader of Henderson, Joel and Victoria Luethje of Lincoln, Jennifer and Michael Cunningham of Eldorado, Wisconsin and Astra Mednis of Lincoln; sister Virginia Gilliland of Fort Morgan, Colorado; sister-in-law Shirley and Gilbert Naber and brothers-in-law H.P. and Coleen Hirschfeld and David and Linda Hirschfeld, all of Waco; grandchildren Violet (Spader) and Jim Kirk of Wisner, Lily Spader of Dubuque, Iowa, Kathryn Spader of Lincoln, Andrew Spader of Henderson, Baxter Luethje, Alexandra Luethje, Connor Luethje, Christine Luethje, Cassandra Luethje and John Robert Luethje, all of Lincoln, Erin Cunningham and Sophie Cunningham, both of Eldorado, Wisconsin; great-granddaughter Aundrea Luethje-Chloupek of Lincoln; nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great-nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, granddaughter Emelie Cunningham, son-in-law Raymond Spader and brother-in-law Keith Gilliland.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church, Tabitha Home Health, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Monarch.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to John’s nurses and health care providers at the Monarch, Tabitha Home Health Care and Hospice of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and to everyone who gave special prayers and expressed concerns during John’s years of illness.