Walter Luehrs

Walter F. Luehrs Jr., 85, of Bradley, died Friday (March 13, 2009) at his home. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bradley.Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Bourbonnais. Memorials may be made to Bishop McNamara Catholic High School, St. Joseph Grade School or to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.Mr. Luehrs was a mechanical engineer for General Foods Corporation, retiring after 35 years of service. He was born Oct. 13, 1923, in Wilmington, the son of Walter F. Sr. and Josephine Bissell Luehrs. He was a graduate of Joliet Catholic High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and his professional engineering degree from Governors State University. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II. He was a volunteer instructor for GED; and a Food Pantry coordinator. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he was a lector and Eucharistic minister. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus, where he was a 4th Degree; and a member of the Kankakee American Legion Post 85, the Moose Lodge, and the Society of Professional Engineers. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and playing cards.Surviving are his wife, the love of his life and best friend, the former Margaret Flynn, of Bradley, whom he married June 13, 1946, in Chicago; three sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas and Heather Luehrs of Denver, Colo., Joseph and Nancy Luehrs of Crystal Lake, Stephen and Jeanette Luehrs of Bradley; nine daughters and four sons-in-law, Maureen Kenney of Cleveland, Ohio, Caroline and David Toofan of Barrington, Patricia Luehrs of San Gabriel, Calif., Susan and Eugene Koos of El Paso, Lynn Luehrs and Arlan Bertrand of Clifton, Mary and Martin Masel of Deerfield, Jyll and Michael Boudreau of Bourbonnais, Joan Luehrs of Berkley, Mich., Jean Luehrs of Kankakee; 21 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; three sisters, Ruth Sreboth of California, Mary Hayes of Arizona, Leanne Abate of Joliet; and one brother, Martin Luehrs of Winona, Minn.Deceased are his parents; one son, Jeffrey Michael; one son-in-law, John F. Kenney; and one grandchild.His life's devotion was to God, his family and service to others. His family remembers his joy of fishing that he passed on to his children and grandchildren, his golf games with his sons and sons-in-law and his passion for being an educator. He set an example by the devout and courageous way he lived his life. He will be missed by his devoted wife and family.

Walter Luehrs

October 13, 1923 - March 13, 2009