Luerkens, Jeannette Ernestine Lane

Jeannette Ernestine Lane Luerkens, 83, of Marion, formerly of Dubuque, was carried home to her Heavenly Father on Monday, July 16, 2012. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 20, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. Family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion.

Jeannette was born on March 24, 1929, in South English, Iowa, the daughter of Ernest and Marjorie Adams Lane. She attended school in South English. For two years, she lived with the Good Shepard Sisters in Dubuque. On March 19, 1945, Jeannette married William “Bill” Luerkens in Cedar Rapids. God blessed their union with 12 children.

Jeannette had a varied career. She was a loving day care provider, a waitress at The Ranch Supper Club and drove Taxicab for Yellow Cab, all in the Cedar Rapids area. Jeannette and Bill owned and operated the A-OK Yellow Cab Company in Dubuque from 1972 to 1989 and the Gingerbread House from 1989 to 1993. They moved back to Marion in 1993 to be closer to their children.

She is survived by her children, Richard and Bonnie Luerkens, Christine Youngmon and Gary Pantenburg, Brenda Holcomb, David and Koreen Luerkens, Cameron and Debbie Luerkens, Rita and Wayne Reif, Michelle “Mitzi” and Brad Nielson, Natalie McFarlane, Greg and Diane Luerkens, Marilyn and Doug DeVries and Alicia Luerkens; 27 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandson; sister, Evelyne Barger; and sister-in-law, Jan Lane.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William; infant daughter, Andrea; brother, Richard “Dick” Lane; and son-in-law, John McFarlane.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Please sign the online guest book for Jeannette at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette July 18, 2012.