1926
Leland
2006
Leland Luwe
September 17, 1926 — September 17, 2006
Leland D. Luwe, 80, of West Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Wellsburg, Iowa, died Sunday, September 17, 2006, at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services will be at 1:30 pm on Thursday, September 21, 2006 at the United Reformed Church of Wellsburg with Rev. Dr. James K. Stein and Pastor Todd Rempe officiating. Burial will follow in Shiloh Cemetery in Wellsburg with military rites provided by AMVETS post # 91 and the American Legion Post # 213. Visitation is from 5 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday at Doyen-Abels Funeral Home in Wellsburg. Memorials may be directed to the Wellsburg Historical Society. To view the complete obituary or to send messages of condolence, please visit www.abelsfuneralhomes.com.
Leland Duane Luwe, the son of Henry L. and Mabel Ashing Luwe, was born in Wellsburg on September 17, 1926. He attended the Wellsburg Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1944. He attended the State University of Iowa the following summer and then worked for John Ross for a year before attending Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) from which he received his BA in June, 1949. He taught business subjects in Carroll, Iowa, High School for one year and then taught school in Wellsburg for two months until he was drafted in the U.S. Army in November, 1950. He served as an instructor in the Army Finance School in St. Louis, Missouri, and Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, until he received his honorable discharge at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, in November, 1952. Following his discharge from service, he returned to Wellsburg where he again taught business subjects in the Wellsburg High School for one year.
He met and married Gladys Nielsen on June 22, 1954. They were married in the Second Christian Reformed Church in Wellsburg. They moved to Iowa City in August of 1954 where Leland attended the State University of Iowa to work on his Master's Degree. He was also an instructor in the Department of Marketing during that time. He then worked for 2 A½ years in the Trust Department of the First Galesburg National Bank and Trust Co. in Galesburg, Illinois, after which he was hired by the Peoples Savings Bank in Wellsburg to become its Executive Vice President on February 1, 1959. He was also elected to serve on the Board of Directors. He later became President and Chairman of the Board of the Bank.
Leland made Profession of Faith in the Second Christian Reformed Church of Wellsburg and served as an Elder and Deacon of the church. He also served as Youth Leader at one time, and participated in choir and musical groups of the church for many years. He was a member of Ashing-Jaspers Post #213 of the American Legion for over 50 years, served as Treasurer of the Wellsburg Community School District for 20 years, was President of the Wellsburg Community Club and served on its Board of Directors, and held positions in the Grundy County Bankers Association.
He retired as Executive Officer of Peoples Savings Bank on December 31, 1985. He and Gladys moved to West Des Moines, Iowa on November 6, 1986. Gladys died there on June 27, 1987. Leland married Vivian E. Rebsch on November 12, 1988, in the West Des Moines United Methodist Church where they became members. They lived in West Des Moines until their move to Sun City West, Arizona for 8 years, and in July of 2002, due to ill health, moved back to West Des Moines. Vivian died December 22, 2005.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gladys; his second wife, Vivian; brother, Vinson M. Luwe; and his brother-in-law, Willis B. Colville. Surviving are his children, Randall Scott Luwe (Pamela) of Kenner, Louisiana and Ann Kirsten Buss (Robert) of McHenry, Illinois; step-children, Allan Rebsch (Connie) of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Berneda Franson (Ken) of West Des Moines, and Charles Rebsch (Nadine) of Fargo, North Dakota; five grandsons, Alan James, Matthew Scott and Timothy Michael Luwe, and Ryan Michael and Joseph Lee Buss; six step-grandchildren, Jon Rebsch, Tricia (Mike) Brandt, Jennifer (Jeff) Hopper, Jodi (Nathan) Banse, and Amy and Cara Rebsch; four step-great grandchildren, Taylor and Alex Brandt, Elias Hopper, and Addison Banse; sister, Kae Colville of Mason City, sister-in-law, Alyce Luwe of Wheatland, Wyoming; and several nieces and nephews.
Leland Duane Luwe, the son of Henry L. and Mabel Ashing Luwe, was born in Wellsburg on September 17, 1926. He attended the Wellsburg Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1944. He attended the State University of Iowa the following summer and then worked for John Ross for a year before attending Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) from which he received his BA in June, 1949. He taught business subjects in Carroll, Iowa, High School for one year and then taught school in Wellsburg for two months until he was drafted in the U.S. Army in November, 1950. He served as an instructor in the Army Finance School in St. Louis, Missouri, and Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, until he received his honorable discharge at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, in November, 1952. Following his discharge from service, he returned to Wellsburg where he again taught business subjects in the Wellsburg High School for one year.
He met and married Gladys Nielsen on June 22, 1954. They were married in the Second Christian Reformed Church in Wellsburg. They moved to Iowa City in August of 1954 where Leland attended the State University of Iowa to work on his Master's Degree. He was also an instructor in the Department of Marketing during that time. He then worked for 2 A½ years in the Trust Department of the First Galesburg National Bank and Trust Co. in Galesburg, Illinois, after which he was hired by the Peoples Savings Bank in Wellsburg to become its Executive Vice President on February 1, 1959. He was also elected to serve on the Board of Directors. He later became President and Chairman of the Board of the Bank.
Leland made Profession of Faith in the Second Christian Reformed Church of Wellsburg and served as an Elder and Deacon of the church. He also served as Youth Leader at one time, and participated in choir and musical groups of the church for many years. He was a member of Ashing-Jaspers Post #213 of the American Legion for over 50 years, served as Treasurer of the Wellsburg Community School District for 20 years, was President of the Wellsburg Community Club and served on its Board of Directors, and held positions in the Grundy County Bankers Association.
He retired as Executive Officer of Peoples Savings Bank on December 31, 1985. He and Gladys moved to West Des Moines, Iowa on November 6, 1986. Gladys died there on June 27, 1987. Leland married Vivian E. Rebsch on November 12, 1988, in the West Des Moines United Methodist Church where they became members. They lived in West Des Moines until their move to Sun City West, Arizona for 8 years, and in July of 2002, due to ill health, moved back to West Des Moines. Vivian died December 22, 2005.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gladys; his second wife, Vivian; brother, Vinson M. Luwe; and his brother-in-law, Willis B. Colville. Surviving are his children, Randall Scott Luwe (Pamela) of Kenner, Louisiana and Ann Kirsten Buss (Robert) of McHenry, Illinois; step-children, Allan Rebsch (Connie) of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Berneda Franson (Ken) of West Des Moines, and Charles Rebsch (Nadine) of Fargo, North Dakota; five grandsons, Alan James, Matthew Scott and Timothy Michael Luwe, and Ryan Michael and Joseph Lee Buss; six step-grandchildren, Jon Rebsch, Tricia (Mike) Brandt, Jennifer (Jeff) Hopper, Jodi (Nathan) Banse, and Amy and Cara Rebsch; four step-great grandchildren, Taylor and Alex Brandt, Elias Hopper, and Addison Banse; sister, Kae Colville of Mason City, sister-in-law, Alyce Luwe of Wheatland, Wyoming; and several nieces and nephews.
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