Kenneth (Ken) Henry Luchtenburg of Dubuque, Iowa passed away November 16, 2023, of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an insidious disease that literally took his breath away. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m., on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1870 Saint Ambrose Street.  Funeral services will be held immediately following visitation at 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Steven J. Rosonke officiating.  Due to the rising number of Covid cases the family requests that all who attend wear a mask.  Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery where military honors will be accorded by the Tri-State Vietnam Veterans and the Dubuque Marine Corps League.  Behr Funeral Home is assisting Ken’s family.

Ken was born July 2, 1947 in Waverly, Iowa. He was the son of Henry E. and Lena (Arends) Luchtenburg. He grew up on the family farm north of Allison, Iowa.

After graduation from Allison High School in May 1965, he attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa for one year. Ken enlisted in the U. S. Army in September 1966. He went to Vietnam in April 1967. He served one year in Cam Rahn Bay as a cashier and finance clerk. After his tour of duty in Vietnam he was assigned at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri as a Travel Pay Specialist. Prior to being discharged in September 1969 Ken had earned the rank of Specialist E-5.

In October 1969 Ken went to work as a bookkeeper at the Farmers Grain Dealers Association Soybean Processing Division in Mason City, Iowa. In August 1970, he started classes at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated in May 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Business with emphasis in Accounting. During the summers of 1971, 1972, and 1973, he worked at John Deere Dubuque Works in the Accounting Summer Training Program.

During his summers at John Deere Dubuque Works, he met Donna Klaas, who eventually became his wife. They married on September 20, 1975. Donna and Ken had four children – Michael, Ann, Carol, and Sara. Ken and Donna celebrated 48 years of marriage on September 20, 2023.

Ken retired December 31, 2001 from John Deere Dubuque Works after thirty years of service. He started working January 2002 as an income tax preparer for H & R Block in Dubuque, Iowa. He did this for twelve tax seasons. During this time, July 1, 2002 to July 1, 2003 Ken also worked as a Business Manager/Bookkeeper for the Church of the Resurrection in Dubuque, Iowa.

Ken was involved with the following organizations: Junior Achievement Accounting advisor 1974-1977, Past President (1981-1982) of the Dubuque Chapter of National Association of Accountants (NAA), now known as Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), Tri-State Vietnam Veterans Association – Dubuque, Iowa 1985 – 2023 serving nearly thirty years as Secretary/Treasurer and 1 year as President, Tri-State Antique and Classic Automobile Club 1990 – 2022 serving two years as Secretary and ten years as Treasurer, member of John Deere Retiree Association 2002 – 2023. Ken enjoyed going to car cruises with either his 1931 Chevrolet Five Window Coupe or 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix. Ken and Donna were members of St. Anthony’s Church since the time of their marriage.

Ken was preceded in death by his grandparents Herbert and Ella (Jungling) Luchtenburg and John J. and Kate (Poppen) Arends, parents Henry E. and Lena (Arends) Luchtenburg, sister Shirley Luchtenburg, aunts, uncles, and several cousins.

Ken is survived by his wife Donna, children Michael, Ann, Carol, and Sara. He is also survived by his brother Kendall (Gena) Luchtenburg, sister Shilotte (Paul) Epley, and numerous cousins.

Online condolences may be left for Ken’s family at www.behrfuneralhome.com