Lubben, David R.

David R. Lubben, 81, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at Silvercrest of Anamosa Assisted Living. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Jim May of Viola Methodist Church officiating. Private family inurnment will be held in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nita, and his three children, Keven Lubben (wife Edith) of Anamosa, Kara Carlson (husband Robert) of Beaux Arts, Wash., and Gunther Lubben (wife Brooke) of Geneva, Ill.; and six grandchildren, Abbie and Parker Carlson, and Berit, Raegan, Stenar and Grie Lubben.

David Ray Lubben was born Nov. 22, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Henry and Mildred (Friis) Lubben. He lived his childhood in Cedar Rapids and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1949. He married Nita Jones on July 22, 1952, in Raton, N.M. David began college at the University of Iowa and graduated in 1953 from the University of Denver with a degree in Architectural Design and Finance. He also received his ROTC 2nd Lt. Commission. David served in the United States Air Force for two years, achieving the rank of captain, and received a Commendation Ribbon for his efficient design of “Fly-Away Kits” which improved transporting goods.

As a young man, David worked with his father at Lubben Interiors and helped design and market Grant Wood chairs. After his military service, he returned to Cedar Rapids and started his own furniture design and import business, Mark International. He completed a number of projects for area colleges and medical facilities including McFarland Clinic. While continuing to expand his business, David saw a need for affordable housing which launched his real estate career. Over the next 30 years he designed, developed and managed multifamily apartment and condominium projects in Iowa, Minnesota and Florida. One of David's favorite projects, The Harbourage, is a unique 186 unit condo project in Clear Lake, Iowa, constructed in the early 1970s around a man-made harbor. Such a project would be almost impossible to build today given regulatory restrictions.

While developing real estate in the Midwest, David also enjoyed working in southeast Florida and the Caribbean renovating hotel properties under H.R. Lubben Group. In the late 1980s, David expanded the business into building hurricane resistant projects with concrete reinforced panels under Nu-Tech Construction. A number of projects were completed after both Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Andrew.

David was a visionary and entrepreneur who always lived by high business principles. He especially enjoyed working with his two sons and was proud of his daughter's medical career. He enjoyed business, flying, sailing, deep-sea fishing, skiing, rowing and spending time with his family.

Memberships: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), El Kahir Shrine, Rotary Club International, Caribbean Hotel Association (special recognition in 1990), Clear Lake Yacht Club and Boy Scouts of America (achieving Eagle Scout at age 14).

The Lubben family would like to thank the entire staff at Silvercrest of Anamosa and Above & Beyond Hospice for their support.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be directed to Alzheimer's Association - East Central Iowa Chapter by visiting www.alz.org/eci in David's name.

Online condolences may be left by visiting under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 25, 2012.