Dorothea “Aline” Luecke, 95, passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Sunset Home, Concordia, KS. She was born March 3, 1928, to Arthur and Sylvia (Ball) Lewis, and was a proud life-long Concordia resident.
After graduating from Concordia High School in 1946, she married Edwin “Ed” Luecke after meeting him on a blind date in 1947. She wanted to know, “is he tall?,” like her. They raised four children: John, Alan, Barbara and Karen. She often told her kids she hoped they found something they loved doing everyday as much as she loved to sew. Sewing combined her many abilities: designing with intricate construction, striving to find the most efficient method possible, and always completing all tasks with excellence. She liked doing things that lasted. For Aline, work was love made visible.
She was a Bell telephone operator for 10 years, and later was an optical technician for Dr.s Miller & Owensby. Aline worked at the Orange Owl boutique, where she altered clothing to fit customers perfectly. She made alterations for most of the dress shops in town and ran a custom alteration business from her home until a stroke required a move to Sunset Home at age 91. Hundreds of people looked sharper because of Aline, and many bridesmaids and prom-goers more beautiful.
Aline became a legend in Seattle’s Fremont Solstice Parade workshop, where she made many costumes with experience honed through family Halloween celebrations. She eagerly taught sewing to participants, and once helped quilt a 20-feet wide stage curtain.
In addition to quilts, Aline designed and produced jackets and bags from repurposed denim jeans that she sold at a Belleville tourist center. Aline lost count of the number of Fair ribbons she won for her sewing projects.
Aline had an insatiable curiosity and loved learning new things until the day she died. She read over 730 books after her stroke. For many years, she proudly volunteered at the Cloud County Historical Museum as a docent, registrar and tour guide, and served on the Board. She worked tirelessly on the Whole Wall Mural steering committee, which is the longest carved-brick mural in the U.S. The Senior Citizens Center was a place of community for her, and she was its secretary for six years.
Aline was a life-long Trinity United Methodist member, who taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. For over 25-years she recorded sermons at the church and played them at Sunset Home for those who couldn’t attend church.
She enjoyed taking pottery classes at Cloud County Community College, and reading about science and medicine. She participated in Extension Home Unit lessons for decades, and also served as a Cub Scout Leader for her boys’ troops.
In 2013, Cloud County named Aline their “Sensational Sunflower” for her decades of civic volunteerism and because Aline “cares for her fellow man and is not afraid to help where she can.”
Aline had a zest for life and she said, “I love to go dancing with my husband. I love to go anywhere with my husband.”
Her husband Ed preceded her in death in 2002, her son John in 2018, daughter-in-law Dina in 2005, and her parents Arthur in 1986, and Sylvia in 1996. She is survived by her sister Evelyn Eleanor Springsted, Rogers, AK and her brother Ralph Lewis of Bath, ME; her daughters Barbara Luecke, Seattle, WA and Karen Luecke (Amy Hope), Lawrence, KS; son Alan Luecke (Cheryl), Kansas City, KS; grandchildren Margot DeMarco, Patrick Casey, Sarah Valentin, Ella Hope-Luecke, Aaron Luecke, Alex Luecke, Christina Wark and Stephanie Armstrong, along with great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
It was Aline’s wishes to be cremated, with internment at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery family plot. A Celebration of Life will be held in Spring, 2024 at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cloud County Historical Museum in care of the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home. For online condolences please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.