James Martin Luetje, age 70, of Westside, IA, passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, October 27, 2019 at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia with Pastor Ben Dose officiating. Organist for the service will be Rebecca Dose and special music will be by his daughter-in-law Jane Luetje. Casket bearers will be Wayne Jensen, Ron Odendahl, Al Hunter, Keith Weller, Dick Wuebker, Kim Von Glan, Bill Snyder, and Denny White. Burial will be in the Westside Cemetery.
Friends may call at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia after 5:00 P.M. on Sunday where there will be a prayer service held at 7:00 P.M. Visitation will resume at the church at 9:30 A.M. until 10:15 A.M. on Monday. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Born on January 28, 1949 in Carroll, IA, he was the son of Wendell and Norma (Schrum) Luetje. Jim grew up on his family’s farm west of Westside and graduated from Ar-We-Va High School in 1967. After graduation he spent six years in the Iowa National Guard. Jim was married to Myra Weems on April 4, 1970 at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning by Pastor Heinicke. Jim and Myra made their home in Westside where they raised their children Sheri and Rob. He worked for Wilken Trucking for several years and then for the Arcadia Farmers Coop for 30 years retiring in 2004. Jim loved the farm atmosphere and spent many years helping his friends Keith and Deb Weller with harvest. In his spare time Jim drove school bus for the Ar-We-Va School District and retired from that in 2016. In 2012, Jim and Myra began spending the winters at Winter Ranch in Alamo, TX. While there, they met many new forever friends and convinced many others to join them.
A special joy of this year was attending the wedding of their son Rob and his new wife Jane on August 13 in North English, IA, and gaining two new grandchildren Morgan and A.J. Bruns who affectionately called him “PaPa Jim”.
Jim loved his 2004 Chevy pickup and working on cars. He enjoyed following NASCAR, going to coffee at Keith’s shop, and spending time with his family.
Jim is survived by his wife Myra of Westside; his son Rob and his wife Jane of North English, IA; his grandchildren: Morgan and A.J.; his sister Judith Edwards (Jack) of Buckeye, AZ; two brothers: Jerald Luetje (Kathy) of Waukee, IA, and Jay Luetje (Cat) of Westside; a sister-in-law Connie Weems-Scott of Marietta, GA; two brothers-in-law: Darrell Weems (Della) of Adel, IA, and Curtis Weems of Stewart, IA; and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his daughter Sheri Luetje in 1992; parents Wendell and Norma Luetje; and his mother and father-in-law Eldis and Norma Weems.