Allen Duane Luedecke

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Luedecke, Allen Duane Allen Luedecke was born June 20, 1939 in Missoula, Montana and died January 30, 2020 in Chico, California. He was preceded in death by his wife, Noel Lang Luedecke; parents Oscar and Dorothy Luedecke; and brother Lloyd Luedecke. He is survived by daughter Susan Gordon Green (David Gordon), son John Michael Luedecke, grandchildren Alexander Green and Clara Green, brother Robert Luedecke (Sharon), and many nieces and nephews. Allen grew up on his parents' farm located in the Bitterroot Valley near Corvallis, Montana, where he attended grammar and high school. He was a good student. He participated in many school activities and excelled in football and track and field. He played the trumpet and was a member of the high school band, the high school dance band, and choir. Allen was active in the Summerdale 4-H Club and exhibited many farm animals at the Ravalli County Fair. He was often chosen to attend the annual state 4-H Club Congress held in Bozeman. Allen became an avid outdoorsman. He especially enjoyed hunting and trout fishing. He continued to enjoy these activities throughout his life, even though he was stricken with polio in 1955, which resulted in paraplegia, necessitating the use of braces, crutches and eventually a wheelchair. After graduating from high school in 1958 (although he was a member of the class of 1957), Allen enrolled at the University of Montana. He graduated with BA (1961) and MA (1963) degrees in mathematics. In 1963, he went to work as a systems engineer at Honeywell in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1965, he accepted a systems engineering job at Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory (a non-profit research organization) in Buffalo, New York. He met Noel Carol Lang in Buffalo and they were married on August 13, 1966. In 1967, they moved to Minneapolis where Allen rejoined Honeywell. He continued to work there until retiring in 2000. During this time period, Allen held various systems engineering, staff engineering and management positions. Allen and Noel lived in Plymouth (a Minneapolis suburb). Their children attended school in the Wayzata School District. The family enjoyed the many outdoor and cultural activities available in Minnesota. Allen served two years as president of the Minnesota State Archery Association. During his term. he volunteered with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to help pass protective legislation placing hunting restrictions on Minnesota's black bears. Allen became a skilled target archer and bowhunter. He competed in both indoor and outdoor archery leagues and tournaments. One of his passions was bowhunting in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, including many successful hunts. Camping, fishing and visiting national parks were frequent family activities highlighted by trips to northern Minnesota lakes, the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness, and the Bitterroot and Big Hole rivers of Montana. And yes, even ice fishing in Minnesota was enjoyed. Allen was an avid reader of Western non-fiction and history. Allen's ashes will be interred at the cemetery in Corvallis, Montana. No funeral will be held. A no-services memorial party will be held at Nash's on the Esplanade this spring. Family and friends will be notified of the details. Donations in Allen's memory can be made to the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), the Butte County Humane Society, or a charity of the donor's choice. Condolences: NewtonBracewell.com

Published on February 9, 2020