Obituary of Lester Harry Luedecker

Lester Harry Luedecker, age 90, died on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at the Cranes Mill Retirement Community in West Caldwell. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, he moved to Chatham in 1957, before settling in West Caldwell in 1998. He attended St. Louis University graduating with an Associate's Degree in Accounting. He began his career working for Von Hoffman in St. Louis, later transferring to the New Jersey office. Von Hoffman was later renamed National Telephone Directory which he retired from in 1980, as the Secretary of the Company. Lester was a Veteran of World War II, having served as a Sgt. in the Army. Lester was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Springfield since 1957. In his spare time he enjoyed softball and playing golf. Surviving is his loving wife of 66 years, Arlene (Nennert) Luedecker; his sons Stephen Luedecker and his wife Judith of Grosse Pointe Woods, MI and James Luedecker and his wife Deb of Berkeley Heights; grandsons Russell Luedecker and his wife Kirsten and their son James; and Phil Luedecker and his wife Anna; sisters Carol Varvares and her husband Nick; Marie Shaw and her husband Jay; sister-in-law Betty Luedecker; and many nieces and nephews. Lester was predeceased by brothers Robert and Warren Luedecker. A memorial services will be held at Crane's Mill Retirement Community, 459 Passaic Ave., West Caldwell, NJ, on Sunday September 23, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) www.JDRF.org