Robert "Cork" Lueking

Celebration of Life Services for Robert "Cork" L. Lueking will be on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford, Nebraska with Reverend Dale Hedstrom officiating. Interment will be held at the Oxford Cemetery in Oxford, Nebraska following services.

Robert "Cork" Lawrence Lueking, 78 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska (formerly of Oxford), passed on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. He was born November 29, 1937 in Holdrege, the third of six children born to Lawrence S. and Mildred C. (Gennrich) Lueking. He was baptized into Christ on December 14, 1937 and confirmed his baptismal covenant on April 29, 1951, at St. John's Lutheran Church.  Cork grew up on a farm in northwest Harlan County and attended Mascot Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1955. He then pursued higher education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and graduated in June of 1959 with a Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture Education. He also did additional studies in livestock judging and obtained his Real Estate license.

On September 14, 1957, he was united in marriage to Sharon Lynn Mansfield at St. John's and to this union they were blessed with three children: Martha, John and Polly. The family made their home in the Mascot area, where they were grain and livestock farmers. Over the years, Cork was an active partner of Livestock Feeders, Inc., Carter Feeders, Inc., and Republican Valley Feeders, Inc. He also worked for a short time as a temporary loan officer for the Farm and Home Administration and as an independent appraiser for the FDIC.  In 1987, Cork and Sharon moved to Oxford as Cork began to face more physical challenges. In 2010 they began to make their home at the Holdrege Memorial Homes.

Cork enjoyed raising and racing Quarter Horses, served on the Nebraska State Quarter Horse Association Board and raced his horses in an eight state area. He greatly enjoyed traveling with his wife, children and grandchildren and was a UNL sports fans.

He served the community as an elected Harlan County Supervisor for 16 years, the Spring Grove Township Board, the Mascot School Board and the Harlan County School Redistricting Board. Cork was very active in the St. John's Lutheran Church, where he served on various boards, teaching Sunday school and taking part in several Lay Witness Missions. He was a 4-H member, leader and served on the Harlan County Fair Board for many years.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Beverly Everts and her husband, Robert and brother-in-law, James Allison.

Cork leaves to celebrate his life, his loving wife of 58 years, Sharon of Holdrege; his children: Martha Bergquist and her husband, Robert of Oxford, John Lueking and his wife, Kim of Oxford and Polly Murdoch and her husband, Marlin of Orleans; 14 grandchildren: Amanda Marsrow and her husband, Casey, Lindin Quinn and her husband, Brandon, Gretchen Bergquist and her fiancé, Dr. Joseph Chiweshe, Jordan Bergquist and his wife, Janae, Meghan Stoelting and her husband, Dan, Hannah Bergquist, Isaac Bergquist, Tucker Bergquist and Connor Bergquist, Darcy Lueking and her fiancé, Ross Bahensky, Taylor Lueking and his wife, Jordan, Mallory Haas and her husband, Joe, Jacque Murdoch and Camry Murdoch; 8 great-grandchildren: Asher, Samuel, Ezra and Zadok Marsrow, Jaden, Brianna, and Halle Quinn and Carson Stoelting; 4 sisters: Anita Peterson and her husband, James of Grand Island, NE, Mary Allison of Paducah, KY, Linda Miller and her husband, John of Punta Gordo, FL and Catherine VanAlstyne and her husband, Lester of Huntingdon, PA; brother-in-law, James and Shirley Mansfield of Lawton, OK; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 24, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Cork's honor and kindly suggested to the Mission Central; 40718 Highway E16, Mapleton, Iowa 51034.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com .

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.