Grace Luebke

GRACE LUEBKE Mary Helen "Grace" Luebke went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 14, 2009. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Grace was born on February 10, 1920 to Richard Sauer and Agnes (Suhrbier) Sauer in Bowling Green, Ohio. On November 15, 1939 she married William C. Luebke who preceded her in death in 1987. Grace lived an extraordinary life. She raised three children while working along side her husband, Bill, on the family farm. She was a weekly columnist for the Ottawa County Exponent and the Daily News. She hosted a radio talk show on WFRO in Fremont. Grace was the director of the Harris-Elmore Public Library for over 30 years. She worked tirelessly for years to collect and organize invaluable information on the history of people of Ottawa and Sandusky Counties. When she retired, she returned to work as the local historian in the "Grace Luebke Local History Room", an addition to the present Harris-Elmore Library which is visited by people from all over the nation. Her joy and passion was helping people find their ancestors and learn more about their family history. She was blessed to be able to do the work she loved right up to the time of her death. Grace received many honors during her lifetime. Among them, she was the first recipient of the Ohioana Citation for Local History/Genealogy. She was a published author of "Elmore, Ohio: A History Preserved" and "Elliston's Yesterdays: An Early History of Elliston, Ottawa County, Ohio". For years, she published the quarterly journal, "The Sandusky County Heritage". Grace is survived by her three children: Thomas (Joanne) Luebke, Joyce (Robert) Treat, and Kathleen (Ron) Giesler, seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, two sisters: Alice Nehls and Mary Louise Orman; four brothers: Richard Sauer, Robert Kosanka, Lee Kosanka, Bill Kosanka and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister: Shirley Nehls. Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 am Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 at Trinity United Church of Christ, Elliston, OH with Rev. Lowell Peters officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 2:00 8:00 pm at Crosser Funeral Home, Elmore, OH. Interment will be in Elliston Cemetery, Elliston, OH. One of Grace's last wishes was to establish a fund to encourage young people to study genealogy; therefore, memorial contributions may be given to the "Grace Luebke Genealogy for Youth Fund" or to Trinity United Church of Christ. On line condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserfuneralhome.com . Funeral Home: Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Elmore-Genoa Chapel 19550 West State Route 51 Elmore, OH US 43416