Hartford City, IN

Steve Ludwig, 76, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2018, at the University of Chicago Medical Center after an extended illness. He was surrounded by family in his last days.

He was born September 28, 1941, in Evanston, Wyoming, son of Robert and Florence (Kerkhoff) Ludwig.

Steve grew up in Kokomo, Indiana and graduated from Northwestern High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Farm Management from Purdue University in 1963 and was a member of Beta Sigma Psi Fraternity. While at Purdue, he met and married West Lafayette native and fellow Purdue student, Ann Scifres. Upon graduation, he worked as a seed corn salesman and farm manager for Halderman Farm Management Service. In 1969, Steve and his family moved to Hartford City and then purchased the Gadbury Farm in 1973. Steve raised corn, soybeans, and Limousin cattle, and worked the farm along with his sons and grandsons for the rest of his life.

In addition to his farming career, Steve earned his real estate and pilot licenses, developed Westwood Subdivision, and served as the Executive Director of the Indiana Soybean Growers Association from 1997 to 2004. In his various involvements with agricultural advocacy he traveled to India, France, China, Brazil, and Turkey. He was elected to the Blackford County Council and was a member of the Hartford City Rotary and the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program. He was involved in many activities including Hartford City Pee Wee Football Board, Little League Baseball, and Community Choir. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church for 48 years, where he loved singing in the choir. In addition to his love of land and family, Steve enjoyed golfing, grilling steaks, and of course, rooting for the Boilermakers!

Steve is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ann, and their children; Mike and wife, Luanne, of Chicago, Illinois; Melinda Otwinowski of Hartford City; Laurie Cottrill and husband, Bill, of Naperville, Illinois; Brian and wife, Kathryn, of Hartford City. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren; Bradley and Jessica Ludwig; Austin and Tanner Flynn; Mike, Steve, and Nicholas Otwinowski; Caroline and Christopher Cottrill; Jake, Daniel, Anna, and Benjamin Ludwig; Lucas, Owen, Addison, and William Otwinowski; Kamdon Flynn. In addition, he is survived by three siblings; sister Carole Hall of Murphy, North Carolina; brother Bruce of Hood River, Oregon; and brother Greg of Columbus, Indiana.

Visitation will be Friday, April 6, at Waters Funeral Home, Hartford City from 4-8 p.m.

On Saturday morning, further visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 610 N. Reserve St., Muncie, with a Funeral Service at 10:30 a.m. officiated by Pastor Daniel Mackey. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Hartford City.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Muncie, Indiana; Blackford County Community Foundation Scholarship Fund; or Purdue Musical Organization.

Visit www.watersfuneralhomes.com to sign the guestbook or leave a condolence.