John Robert Luedtke

John Luedtke Obituary John Robert Luedtke
November 24, 1942 August 22, 2025
John Robert Luedtke, 82, of Madison, WI and Wayzata, MN, passed away peacefully at his home on August 22, 2025. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, John will be remembered for his kindness, selflessness, and the joy he brought to others.
Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on November 24, 1942, to Orv and Ruth Luedtke, John grew up with his younger brother, Jim. He graduated from high school in Oshkosh and went on to earn his masters degree in History from the University of WisconsinMadison. It was in Oshkosh that John met the love of his life, Gloria Jean Smith. They married in 1964 and celebrated more than 60 years together, raising two sons, Joel and Jason, in Oregon, WI. After almost 50 years there, John and Gloria moved to Folkestone in Wayzata, MN, to be closer to family. They were longtime members of Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison and later of St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN.
John dedicated more than 30 years of his career to the University of WisconsinMadison, serving most recently as Director of Computer Science. Beyond his professional life, Johns greatest joys were his family, faith, and love of sports. He played softball, hockey, baseball, and basketball, and shared his passion as a coach, raising his sons to be proud Badger, Brewer, Bucks, and Packer fans.
John was also a talented builder and problem-solver, known for his patience, discipline, and meticulous attention to detail. His skills carried into every project, often beginning with a carefully crafted "working model. " That same dedication helped him achieve a black belt in martial arts and kept him doing weekly pilates well into his 80s. He loved the outdoorscamping, hiking, biking, and working alongside his family to cut trees, mulch, or remove buckthorn.
Diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, John faced the illness with courage and determination,living fully for 25 years before his passing.
He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed. John was preceded in death by his parents, Orv and Ruth. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; sons Joel (Angie) and Jason (Joy); grandchildren Mason, Josh (Morgan), Hannah, Ben, and Max; and his brother Jim (Liz).
A celebration of Johns life will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m., with a luncheon to follow. Service live streaming available through https://spdlc.org/livestream/ St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church 17205 County Road 6 Plymouth, MN 55447
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Struthers Parkinson's Center Donations or https://www.healthpartners.com/care/specialty/hospice/donate-form/ are appreciated.