Dick R. Ludwig

SIOUX CITY -- Dick R. Ludwig, 71, of Sioux City died following a battle with cancer Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, at his residence with his family present.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 15, 2009 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Daniel Guenther officiating. Private family graveside services will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 5:30 to 8 p.m., a Masonic service at 6 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Dick was born July 13, 1937, in Correctionville, Iowa, the son of Paul and Phyllis (Riser) Ludwig. He graduated from Leeds High School in 1956. He joined the U.S. Navy on Oct. 25, 1955. Upon graduation, he entered the Navy full-time. He served on the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier until October 1959.

He was united in marriage to Velma Schumacher on April 7, 1958, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.

After leaving the service, he went to school to become a USDA federal meat inspector in May 1968. He retired from the USDA in September 1995.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He also was a member of the Triangle Masonic Lodge 643 A.F. & A.M. and the Abu Bekr Shrine White Horse Mounted Patrol. He loved his 1951 Ford Flathead that he drove for the Vintage Wheels. He enjoyed numerous hobbies. He coached Senior Little League Baseball in Morningside and grade school football for many years. He also raised Brittany spaniel hunting dogs and Pasofino horses. He was a lifelong hobby farmer and horseman. He loved to hunt, fish, watch western movies, NASCAR and attend Knoxville (Iowa) sprint car races.

Survivors include his wife, Velma of Sioux City; their only son and his wife, Richard "Dick" and Carole Ludwig of Lawton, Iowa; two daughters, Toni Peters and her fiance, John Dolphin of Sioux City and Lisa and her husband, Michael Frey of Sergeant Bluff; eight grandchildren, Cassie and her husband, Troy VanRoekel, Andy Ludwig, Kari and Colt Ludwig, Tyler and Eric Peters and Kayla and Bryce Frey; a great-granddaughter, Brooke VanRoekel; a brother and his wife, David and Shelly Ludwig of Sioux City; and a sister and her husband, Karen and Rich Munson of Omaha.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Phyllis Ludwig.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.