Bernard “Ben” August Luechtefeld, 95, Linn, passed away Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, at home surrounded by loving family.
He was born Oct.1, 1925, to Edward J. and Elizabeth J. (Sunderdick) Luechtefeld in Beaufort.
He was united in marriage to Arlene Kassebaum Oct. 4, 1958, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Port Hudson.
Ben attended school at Holy Family Catholic Church in Port Hudson and later went on to earn his GED. He served his country in the U. S. Navy during World War II, participating in the liberation of the Philippines and the invasion of Okinawa. After the war, Ben obtained an associate degree in electrical engineering at St. Louis University. He was a member of St. George Catholic Church in Linn where he and Arlene raised their family and lived for 55 years, having moved to Linn from Belleville, Illinois.
Ben had many skills and used them throughout his career in jobs ranging from farmer to bulldozer operator, radar site technician, computer field engineer, and finished his career retiring after 20+ years at SSM Health Care St. Mary’s Hospital at the age of 81.
He enjoyed deer and turkey hunting, fly fishing for trout and crappie fishing at Truman Lake. Ben was an avid sports fan following the Cardinals, Rams, Chiefs and the Mizzou Tigers. He also liked to play golf and was a jack of all trades; there was nothing he couldn’t fix. Family was very important to Ben and he enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by sisters, Irene Bade and Maggie Parmentier; brothers, Harry, Robert, Jim, Frank and Eddie; brothers-in-law, Leonard Kassebaum and Robert Bade; and sister-in-law, Loretta Kassebaum.
Ben is survived by wife of 62 years, Arlene, seven children, Betty Vollmer and husband Terry of Pilot Grove, Barb Kiso and friend Pat Hasenbeck of Taos, Robert Luechtefeld and wife Lesia of Roeland Park, Kan., Roger Luechtefeld and wife Lisa of O’Fallon, Beverly McCracken and husband Jon of New Bloomfield, Belinda Pickett and husband Brent of Lake St. Louis and Becky Haden and husband Steve of O’Fallon; grandchildren, DeAnn, Alicia, Bradley, Kelsey, Amanda, Brianna, Kyla, Isabel, Braden, Sydney, Caleb, Molly, and Hannah, 8 great-grandchildren; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. ,Thursday, March 4, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. George Catholic Church in Linn with Fr. Colin Franklin officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors will be in the St. George Parish Cemetery in Linn.
Memorial contributions suggested to Mass of Expressions of sympathy to Vitae Society or St. George Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Morton Chapel in Linn.
