Twila Luedke

Twila Jean Luedke passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at the age of 91 at The Piper Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in Kansas City, Kan. Twila was born in Bonner Springs, on Nov. 14, 1928, and lived the majority of her life in Colony. Her parents were Harold and Eva Kelley, who lived on a farm near Colony, where she grew up with five siblings.

She graduated from Colony High School and taught one year of school before marrying the love of her life, Wayne Luedke of Colony, on Sept. 5, 1948, at Colony United Methodist Church. They were married for 67 years and had two children, Douglas Wayne and Marcia Ann. After a brief stay in Atwood after their marriage, they moved back to Colony for the remainder of their lives.  

Besides being a wonderful homemaker and cook, she worked for her parents at the Colony Café for several years before purchasing the cafe from them. She owned the Colony Restaurant for 14 years where she was renowned for her delicious food. After a short reprieve from selling the restaurant, she obtained a Certified Nurses Aide license and worked for Home Health through Allen County Hospital and later transitioned into private individual care.

During her years in Colony, she was one of the founding members of the Jolly Dozen Club, which is still functioning today, and a member of Colony United Methodist Church.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; son Douglas; parents Harold and Eva Kelley; siblings Aaron Kelley, Norman Kelley, Eula Gardner and Marvin Kelley and great-granddaughter, Monica.  

She leaves behind her daughter, Marcia (Jeff) Harrington; sister, Merriul Kelley Weibel; seven grandchildren, Jacob Luedke, Jason (Jaime) Luedke, Amy (Dustin) Thomas, Linda (Karl) Kasselman, Lisa Beers, Michael (Kimberly) Ashford and Beth Grimm; 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

A private family service will be held at the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home, Bonner Springs. An interment service will follow at Colony Cemetery. A date for her Celebration of Life Memorial will be determined after Covid-19 homebound regulations end. 

Donations may be made in memory of Twila Luedke to the Colony United Methodist Church.