Kenneth Raymond Luedtke

Kenneth Raymond Luedtke, age 82, passed away Sunday, January 7, 2024, at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital. He was born in Racine, WI on September 20, 1941, the son of Howard and Selma (Garski) Luedtke.

Ken graduated from Lutheran High School, served as a sergeant in the US Army, and was the TMJ4 weather observer for Racine for over 40 years.

Ken had a lifelong passion for sailing that began when he was 10 years old. He had made a raft and floated it out into Lake Michigan. At some point, however, he realized he couldn’t return to shore. Luckily a couple on a sailboat found him and brought him aboard. They said they would teach him how to sail if he agreed to never go out on his raft again. With that promise, the raft was burned and he started sailing which he continued for the rest of his life sailing on many boats and in many races. He was a lifetime member of the Racine Yacht Club from 1962 and served as Commodore of the RYC in 1979.

Ken earned a Master of Photography degree and acted as President of both the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Photographers Association and the Wisconsin Professional Photographers Association. He also owned a photography studio in Racine, Photography by Ken. He combined his two passions with his sailing photography. He photographed many races and there is an amazing photo on his wall that shows a large sailboat at a 45-degree angle in heavy seas off the coast of Hawaii. Asked about it, he would say he was in a small rubber dinghy following behind.

Ken was able to see Lake Michigan from his hospital room in his last days. It was only fitting that he could see the lake that brought him such joy throughout his life.

Ken is survived by his wife, Dianne, and first wife, Julie; daughters, Bonnie (Scot) Evans and Kari Luedtke; step-son, Steve (Motoe) Mathews; son-in-law, Mike Oates; grandsons, Lucas and Tyler Oates. He was preceded in death by his brother, Vern Luedtke, and step-daughter, Kristen Oates.

Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation and memorial service on April 6, 2024, visitation 10-11 am followed by a memorial service with full military honors at 11 am at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 4340 6 Mile Rd, Racine. The service will be followed by a celebration of Ken’s life from 1:00-3:00 pm at Racine Yacht Club, 1 Barker Street, Racine. In place of flowers donations to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society have been suggested.