John Lueders

John Lueders

John Joseph Lueders, 84, passed away from liver cancer Friday, March 6, 2009, at his home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Aug. 20, 1924, the fifth of seven children to Herbert and Adelaide Lueders, in Lexington, Mo. The family moved the following year to Cape Girardeau where he was educated at St. Vincent's Elementary School and Central High School.

Lueders served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. He was a member of the 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 719th Squadron, as a ball turret gunner on B-24 planes. The 449th operated primarily as a strategic organization, attacking such targets as oil refineries, communications centers, aircraft factories and industrial areas in Italy, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Greece in the Balkan Theater. This group was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations for extraordinary heroism against armed enemies. Lueders was also awarded the U.S. military medals of Good Conduct and the Oak Leaf Cluster. Deployed to Grottaglie, Italy, he flew 33 missions.

Following his discharge from the service, he completed his education in Chicago at Northwestern University with a bachelor of science degree in commerce. He later became partner and vice president with Manchester & Kreer, a Chicago advertising firm. After 15 years he returned to his hometown to care for his parents, who were becoming elderly.

He worked alongside his brother, Paul, at Lueders Studio, which was founded by their father. He was well known to many people in Southeast Missouri who came to the studio for wedding photographs, Sagamore yearbook photos, childhood pictures and family portraits. After the close of the studio in 1995 following the death of his brother, a vast collection of local photographs rich in regional history was donated to the archives at Southeast Missouri University's Kent Library and made available for historic research. The state of Missouri recognized the significance and rarity of this collection, and issued a grant in the amount of $20,000 for its preservation.

In retirement, he and his brother, Julius, were active volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul Church. They also enjoyed the companionship of their brother, Ralph, and sister, Clarisse, whom they hosted each day for lunch in their home and assisted in times of failing health.

Survivors include three brothers, Herbert (Betty) Lueders of Lexington, Mich., Julius Lueders of Cape Girardeau, Maurice (Dottie) Lueders of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul (Genevieve) Lueders of Cape Girardeau, Ralph (Mercedes) Lueders of Hinsdale, Ill., and his sister, Clarisse (Harold) Chism of Cape Girardeau.

The family will be receiving friends from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Funeral Home, 1001 N. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau. Parish prayers will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sharing of memories will be most welcome at this time.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday by the Rev. David Hulshof at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1913 Ritter Drive, Cape Girardeau.

Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Southeast Hospice, 760 S. Kingshighway, Suite C, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63703.