Arthur Melville Luedtke

Arthur “Bud” Melville Luedtke, 96, of Pigeon, passed away on Monday, October 7, 2019 at Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe.

Bud was born January 24, 1923 in Winsor Twp to the late Leo Theodore and Elizabeth (Hinz) Luedtke. Bud attended grade school at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran School in Berne and graduated from Pigeon High School in 1940. He also attended banking school at the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin.

On April 7, 1945 he married Alice L. Richmond in Long Beach, California where he was stationed in the US Naval Air Corp during World War II. Alice preceded him in death on October 19, 2001 after 56 years of marriage.

Bud was employed by Pigeon Lumber Company following his discharge from the Navy. In 1952 he was hired by the Pigeon State Bank as a bookkeeper. He worked for the bank for 36 years. At the time of his retirement in 1988 he was President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thumb National Bank and Trust Company. He remained on the Board as Chairman until January 1, 2000. In addition to his banking career, Bud operated a cash crop farm operation for 23 years with his father-in-law Floyd Richmond.

Bud was an active member of his community. In 1959 Bud was elected to the Pigeon Village Council and was then elected as President of the Council from 1961-1970. He has been a member of the Pigeon Lions Club since 1952. In July 2002 he was presented with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for dedicated humanitarian services by the Lion’s Club International Foundation. Bud was a lifetime member of the Scenic Golf and Country Club and a board member of Peoples Oil and Gas Company. He was also a lifetime member of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church-Berne, where he served on the Church Council for 15 years.

Bud is survived by his two daughters, Carol Buzzitta of Lansing and Janet Luedtke of Pigeon; his son Alan (Shelia) Luedtke of Millington; grandchildren Mark Buzzitta, Amy (Brian) Verhougstraete, Kyle (Katy) Luedtke, Brandon Luedtke, Kristen Luedtke, and Chelsea (Nathan) McGuire; great-granddaughters Megan and Ashley Verhougstraete and Kaylie Luedtke; and several nieces and nephews. Bud was preceded in death by his infant twin brother and sister, Orville and Erna, brother Leo Jr. and sister Verona Dast.

Funeral services will be 11:00am Thursday, October 10th at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church-Berne with Rev. Steve Neuman officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be 2-8 Wednesday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Pigeon. Memorials may be made to the St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church Choir.