Melvin B. "Mel" Luetjen

November 24, 1924 - February 25, 2013

Melvin B. "Mel" Luetjen, age 88 of Higginsville, Missouri died on Monday, February 25, 2013, at Pleasant Hill Health & Rehabilitation Center in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Born Monday, November 24, 1924 in Higginsville, he was the son of John Luetjen and Anna Noack Luetjen. He married Mary E. Souder November 10, 1950. She preceded him in death October 9, 2010. Also preceded in death are his parents, four brothers, Marvin V. Luetjen, Wilbert F. Luetjen, John Henry Luetjen and Elroy George Luetjen; and two sisters, Beulah Anson Volkens and Fern Eva R. Anson. Mr. Luetjen served as a Tec 3 in the U.S. Army during WWII, serving in Manilla and Japan. He worked at General Motors Assembly Division, Leeds Plant in Kansas City, Missouri for more than 35 years, then worked nine years at Syncor where he delivered nuclear medicines. After his marriage, he lived in Independence, Missouri until 2007 when he returned to Higginsville. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Independence American Legion Post #1000 and a former member of the International Carnival Glass Association . Survivors include a sister-in-law, Mary Salyer Justice of Naples, Florida, numerous nieces and nephews. A Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, March 4, 2013 at Hoefer Chapel,1600 Main St. Higginsville, with Rev. Richard Cook officiating and Lee Hake as vocalist. Interment will be in City Cemetery, Higginsville. The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Monday prior to the service. The Family requests memorials to the Higginsville Senior Center. Casketbearers are Denny Lueck, Gary Souder, Greg Soendker, Tony Warren, Jeff Houts, and Ron Adkins. Honorary pallbearers are Max Tyler, Ed Heiple, Victor Shaw, Gene Wood, Jerry Sears, Kenneth Ritter, Gene Burden and Robert Conaway. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hoeferfuneralhome.com