Maurice 'Dean' Luther

MAURICE "DEAN" LUTHER Cedar Rapids Maurice "Dean" Luther, 91, a resident of The Meth-Wick Community, died there Saturday, May 14, 2016. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Kenwood Park United Methodist Church, where friends may call after 10 a.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Michael Metz will officiate. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Dean donated his body to the University of Iowa for medical research. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, LaVone; two daughters, Diane (Richard) Luther of Galena and Donna (Kermit) Jelmeland of Anamosa; one son, David (Linda) of Vinton; his twin sister, Jean Langston of Corona, Calif.; five grandchildren, Nicole Creswell, Brian Luther, Abby Luther, Stacia Stroud and Haley McNulty; and eight great-grandchildren, Tyson, Paige, Dylan, Brody, Drew, Talia Mae, Jonathan and Jordan. He was preceded in death by a son, Dale; and two brothers, Donald and Bobby. Dean was born March 3, 1925, in Overland Park, Kan., the son of Samuel and Marie Redfield Luther. He married LaVone A. Chermak on June 27, 1948, in Cedar Rapids. Dean and LaVone owned an Amway business for over 60 years. It afforded him the opportunity to work from home and spend a great deal of time with his family. He proudly served in the Army during World War II and landed on Utah Beach on D-Day. Dean was a faithful member of Kenwood Park United Methodist Church. He was a very gifted singer and sang in the church choir for over 60 years and at Meth-Wick for over 11 years. Dean had a great sense of humor and regularly had a "joke of the day" to tell. He enjoyed working with ceramics and especially the time spent with his beloved family and many friends. His memory will be cherished by all who knew and loved him. He will be greatly missed. Memorial donations may be given to Kenwood Park United Methodist Church or The Meth-Wick Community. Please leave a message or tribute to the Luther family on the web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.