Kent W. Lueking

June 23, 1926-Jan. 27, 2011

OXFORD, Nebraska -- Funeral services for Kent W. Lueking will be conducted from the St. John's Lutheran Church of Oxford, Nebraska, on Tuesday, 2 p.m., with the Rev. Dale Hedstrom officiating. Interment is in the Oxford Cemetery with military honors provided by the Oxford American Legion Post No. 219 in conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corp Military Honors Team.

Kent Walter Lueking, 84, passed away on Thursday (Jan. 27, 2011), at his home in Oxford.

Kent was born June 23, 1926, in Edison, Nebraska, the youngest of three children born to Henry Lewis and Edna Mae (Walter) Lueking. He attended school in Edison through 11th grade and then graduated from Oxford High School with the class of 1943. Following his education, he served his country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II from Sept. 16, 1943, until his honorable discharge on Dec. 6, 1945.

After his discharge from the military in 1945, he joined his father at H.L. Lueking Implement and Hardware. Kent was honored in 1996 by the John Deere Company for being in business for 50 years. On the hardware side of the business, he received the "Gold Hammer Award" from Estwing Company, manufacturers of Estwing hammers. Kent continued in business until his retirement in 2000.

On April 4, 1948, he was united in marriage to Oleta Jean Gill to this union four children were born: Mark, Gene, Gayle and Christine.

Kent was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church, member of the American Legion Post No. 219 and was a Charter Member of the Oxford VFW Post. He was also a member of United Commercial Travelers, a past member of the Ray Walt Masonic Lodge, past member of the Shriners in Hastings, Nebraska and also served the community for 30 years on the Oxford Volunteer Fire Department. In May of 1961, Kent was selected for the honor of "Outstanding Young Volunteer Fireman of Nebraska" by the Nebraska Jaycees.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Billy at the age of 14; and one sister, Jean Ruth Gillis.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife of 62 years, Oleta of Oxford; four children, Mark Lueking and his wife, Anita of Oxford, Gene Lueking and his wife, Nancy of Lincoln, Nebraska, Gayle Widicker of Jamestown, North Dakota, and Christine Stokes and her husband, Brian of Omaha, Nebraska; seven grandchildren, Angela (Lueking) Schaible and her husband, Erik, Brian Lueking, Julia Sandwith and her husband, Eric, Logan Lueking, Jon Widicker, Lindsay Widicker, and Andrew Stokes; four great-grandchildren, Graham, Jaialynn, Adelaide and Daniel; brother-in-law, Bob Gillis of Lone Pine, California; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Kent will lie in state at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford today until 8 p.m. with the family greeting from 6- 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.