Gilbert Luker

Gilbert K. Luker, 93, of Mason City, Iowa, and formerly of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, surrounded by his family.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 419 N. Delaware Ave., Mason City, with the Rev. Mark Lavrenz officiating.  Committal services will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.

Visitation will be held Thursday evening, Dec. 20, 2012 at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. N.E., Mason City, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to Gilbert’s service on Friday.

Should friends desire, memorials may be left in Gilbert’s name to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

Gilbert Kermit Luker was born on July 21, 1919 in Princeton, Minn., the son of Henry J. and Wilhemena (Frohlich) Luker.  At a young age his family moved to Clear Lake where he was raised and attended high school.  Following high school Gilbert began working for the Clear Lake Bakery.

At the age of 21 he enlisted in the United States Army where he faithfully served in the 133rd Infantry Division until his honorable discharge in December of 1941.

Gilbert was united in marriage to Lydia Heimbuch in Mason City in 1941; this union would be blessed with four children.  Lydia would precede him in death in 2002.

Following his time in the military Gilbert returned to the family farm where he and Lydia would spend many years working the land, one of his true passions in life.  He also worked at Natural Plus and Decker/Armour Meats throughout his adulthood.

In 2007 Gilbert was united in marriage to Ardeen Hansen in Mason City, after meeting one another at the Senior Citizen’s Center.  

In his free time Gilbert enjoyed playing cards, singing in the Barbershop Chorus, woodworking, hunting, fishing, watching “Matlock” on TV, tending to his flower gardens, and dancing, especially at the Surf Ballroom and in recent years at the Senior Citizen’s Center.  

His greatest love and enjoyment was his family; Gilbert loved spending every opportunity he had with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Gilbert is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mason City, where he had served on the Board of Elders as well as the Board of Trustees; he also spent many years singing in the church choir, which he joined at the age of 15.

Those grateful in sharing in his life are his wife, Ardeen Luker, Mason City; children, Ronald “Rohn” Irvin (Georgia) Luker, Mason City, Jayne Sue Cambronne, Watertown, Minn., and Katherine Elizabeth (Jim) Bart, Watertown, Minn.; son-in -law, Chuck Edelen, Ham Lake, Minn.; Ardeen’s children, Michael Fjetland, Gary (Rhonda) Fjetland, Steve (Kathy) Fjetland, Linda (Cecil) Myers, and Rose (Russ) Walker; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as extended family members and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lydia Luker; daughter, Marian Kay Edelen; and his siblings, Adolph Luker, Fred Luker, Arnold Luker, Esther Luker, Leona Hill, and Irma Hall.

Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.