Gary Ludington
Gary Wayne Ludington, 83, of Hamilton, IL (formerly from Atlantic) passed away peacefully on March 26, 2025 at Ft. Madison Community Hospital, Ft. Madison, IA. Gary was born June 6, 1941 in Shenandoah, IA to Doris Coder Ludington and Clifford Ludington. Gary grew up in the Shambaugh, IA area and spent time on the 40-acre farm of his grandparents. He was able to stay in the same rural school district and help with the farm. His childhood collie dog, Tubby, was a constant companion and protector. Gary was intelligent and multi-talented, always kind and supportive of his five younger sisters. He loved vehicles of all sorts: tricycles, bicycles, cars, trucks, motorcycles, and snowmobiles, and general tinkering!
When Gary was around 11 years old, he contracted Bulbar Polio and was treated at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. By God’s amazing grace, he survived – the only one on his hospital wing. His teachers sent him assignments to keep him caught up. He graduated from Shambaugh, IA eighth grade as Salutatorian. Gary played Baritone in the band, played baseball, and was the champion of many board games.
After graduating from South Page High School in 1960, Gary attended Iowa State University in Ames, IA. After one semester of college, he married Sharon Mulkins of Shambaugh on Christmas Eve 1960. Gary and Sharon moved into a small mobile home in Ames while Gary completed his degree. Over the following seven years, Gary and Sharon had three children. After graduating, Gary had a few short-term jobs before obtaining a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FMHA), where he remained for 30 years before accepting early retirement. Gary then earned a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and drove a semi for another couple decades before retiring in full.
Gary enjoyed taking his family on a summer vacation every year, covering most of the contiguous states over several years, all while pulling a camper behind the car. Gary was proud of his children and attended many of their sporting and other activities. He was also pleased that each of his three children completed college. Many of his grandchildren remember bike rides, coloring, games and reading with Grandpa.
Gary participated in RAGBRAI for a number of years and spent months training for the lengthy bicycle ride. Gary was always active in church leadership roles and various activities throughout his life.
Gary married Jane Huff of Keokuk in 1997 and they moved across the Mississippi River to Hamilton, IL where they have lived since. Gary and Jane enjoyed traveling in and out of the country, bicycling, motorcycling, canoeing, and he enjoyed caring for their cat, Norman.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Doris Nowels and Clifford Ludington; step-father, Jack Wareham; grandparents, Blanche and Fred Coder, U.A. and Ethel Ludington; uncle, James Vincent; brother, Charlie; brother-in-law, Gerald Duerksen; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Mulkins.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jane Ludington of Hamilton, IL; ex-wife, Sharon Ludington of Atlantic, IA; children, Brenda (Alan) Zellmer, Gerald Wray Ludington, and Rebecca Stahr (Rob Hansen) all of Atlantic, IA; Jane’s children, Leonard Huff of Hamilton, IL, Kerry (Jim) LeMaster of Keokuk, IA, Marcy Wycklendt of Burlington, IA, and Amy Gronewald of Nauvoo, IL; grandchildren, Michelle (Sean) Larson of Urbandale, IA, Cristin (Brian) Kreifels of Adel, IA, Danelle (Jim) Skartvedt of Azle, TX, Ethan (Hillary) Zellmer of Atlantic, IA, Felicia (Dakota) Nelsen of Walnut, IA, Gage (Maddi) Zellmer of Atlantic, IA, Allison Stahr of Moorhead, MN, Natalie (Jay) Mammay of Covington, LA, and Seth Stahr of Atlantic, IA; Jane’s grandchildren, Scottie Ramirez of Hamilton, IL, Marc (Bobbie) Jenkins of Cordova, IL, Tony Wycklendt of Cedarburg, WI, and Marshall Huff of Hamilton, IL; 27 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; sisters, Janice Duerksen of Groesbeck, TX, Verna (Mike) Mickelson of Centerville, GA, Pamela (Mike) Nold of Easton, MO, Larissa (Doug) Heinrich of Stillwell, KS, and Janelle (Phillip) Wolfe of St. Joseph, MO; brothers-in-law, Gene Mulkins of Clarinda, IA, Russell Pankey of Charlotte, NC, Melvin (Sue) Pankey of San Antonio, TX, Gene (Mary) Pankey of Burlington, IA, and LeRoy (Sue) Pankey of Bonaparte, IA; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, their families, and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 4th at GracePoint Church in Atlantic. Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Details of the burial in Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton, Illinois are pending.
Printy Funeral Homes and Roland Funeral Service are caring for Gary’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
