Joan R. Luedtke Obituary

Cremation has taken place. A family graveside burial service will take place in Frankfort this summer. Contributions may be made to either Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Michigan or Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfort, Michigan.

Joan Ruth Luedtke, 90, of Frankfort, Michigan died peacefully surrounded by her immediate family on June 10, 2025. Joan was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Emery and Estelle (Goggin) Shaft on March 8, 1935. She was united in marriage to Erich Robert Luedtke in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on June 23, 1956.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, the newly married couple moved to Frankfort, Michigan where Erich joined the family business, Luedtke Engineering Company, and Joan assumed responsibility for raising their two children, Chris and Mary Sue. Joan and Erich celebrated 60 years of marriage before his passing in 2016. Joan loved live theater. As a young girl growing up in Milwaukee, she enjoyed attending plays and musicals with her parents and taking acting classes throughout high school. As an adult, she acted on-stage in amateur plays performed by the Benzie County Players and rarely missed a performance by the Cherry County Playhouse in Traverse City. Joan also loved parties and outings, including cross-country skiing festivities, Lutheran youth group activities, dinners with friends in Myrtle Beach, and happy hours at Michigan Shores Cooperative. She was an active member of the Periwinkle Garden Club and P.E.O.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Mary Sue (Mark) Hoffman of Kalamazoo. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Erich Luedtke; son, Chris Luedtke; daughter-in-law, Linda Luedtke; and grandson, Christopher Luedtke.