SIOUX CITY, IA | Richard Herman “Dick” Lueck, 81, of Sioux City met up with his Heavenly Father on Monday, April 24, 2017 at a local care facility after a lengthy illness related to MS.
Services will be 10:00 A.M. Friday, April 28, 2017 at St. Boniface Catholic Church with Rev. Michael Cronin officiating. Military rites will be accorded following the service. Cremation will then take place and burial will be at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday with the family present 6-8 p.m. and a vigil service followed by the rosary at 7 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be offered online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.
Dick was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1935 in Stetsonville, Wisc to Herman and Anna (Klimick) Lueck. He grew up in Stetsonville and Wausa, Wisc. He was the 3rd from the youngest of 10 children, and he learned early in life, hard work, value of family and how it felt to be Poor. He was a Humble man.
Following high school graduation Dick joined the Air Force for a 4 year stint, ending his career right here in Sioux City, IA, where he joined the 174th Air National Guard as a civilian employee and “Weekend Warrior” with the Air Guard!
While here, he met and married the love of his life, Madonna Miller, and they were married on Sept. 19, 1959. They made their home here in
Sioux City and raised 3 children.
While working here as a Pneudraulic/Fuel Specialist with A-7 and F-16 Fighter Planes, the 174th Air Guard was activated from an incident with the USS Pueblo in Dec. of ’67, and activation occurred at Phu-cat, Vietnam with “Boot on the Ground: from May of ’68 to May of ’69.
On his return and shortly after, Richard was diagnosed with MS more than 30 years ago with pronounced disability in the last 10 years of his life. He had a lot of stamina and was very accepting of his condition and never complained. He just never let things get him down. He was so good at thinking outside the box as there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix or figure out. He retired after 30 years with the 185th Air National Guard.
Dick was a member of St. Boniface Church, the church Men’s Club and the Briar Cliff Community for many years. He was active in church affairs and home and school with his wife, Madonna. He belonged to Retired Air Techs (RATS) which he loved being with all of his old buddies from the Air Guard. He was a good old guy and loved to socialize and play cards with these friends.
His main love was to fish in the pristine waters of Lake Okoboji and any pond he could find around home. Most of all he loved spending time with his grandkids. (They’re the ones you give back at the end of the day, huh?) He also loved football and was an avid fan of his home state’s “The Green Bay Packers”, and followed every game they played!
Besides all of his friends and relatives, left to cherish his memory is his wife, Madonna; children Suzanne (Shawn) Stanek of Sioux City, Matthew Lueck of Arnolds Park, IA and Michael (Angela) Lueck of Sioux City; 4 grandchildren, Katie (Brian) Sittig, Nicholas (Kory) Stanek, John Stanek and Daniel (Jenni) Stanek; 4 great-grandchildren, Elijah Sittig, Frances Sittig, Harrison Stanek and Libby Stanek; sister, Jane (Harry) Carstensen of Merrill, Wisc; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers, Martin, Melvin and James; and 5 sisters, Evie, Helen, Dottie, Florence and Zellie.
Pallbearers will be his sons and grandsons.
He was a loving Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather and we will miss him terribly!