Nancy J. Lueder

Nancy J. (Caffrey) Lueder, 83, of Lawton, Michigan, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026, after recent complications with COPD. She is survived by her husband, Alfred Lueder and children, Matthew 59, Eric (April) 56, Todd 54 and Christopher (Jeannie) 52. She was also a grandmother/great-grandmother to 11. She was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon (Caffrey) Blackwell.

Born June 9, 1942, to John J. and Gabrielle D. Caffrey, she grew up in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, Illinois. After college, she worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company where she would meet her loving husband, Alfred. The two married on February 20, 1965, and eventually settled in Park Forest, Illinois, where she spent the first half of her life raising her four boys into men of integrity and heart. Not only raising four boys, but she also opened her home and heart to countless neighborhood kids, who still refer to her affectionately as "Mom". It was a testament to her extraordinary love, strength, patience, and a deep heart that would follow her into the second half of her life.

Following Alfred's retirement, Nancy and Alfred fulfilled their dream of retiring on a quiet lake, settling on Huzzy Lake in Lawton. Michigan. They embraced the Village of Lawton, and the local area embraced her right back. Nancy donated countless hours with local garden clubs, quilting clubs, St. Mary's Catholic Church, the library, and Bronson Lakeview Auxiliary. She was named the Paw Paw Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and the Grand Marshall of the Lawton Summerfest parade in 2022.

Her most fulfilling achievement was the 25 years she spent with the Lawton Free Reader, a monthly local publication created and co-edited by her and Alfred. Each month, they would comment on local events, sports, and other stories, assembling the columns, creating the layout, arranging for printing, collating and even hand delivering this free publication. She worked tirelessly until publishing the last issue in December 2025.

Thank you for being a guiding light. Rest in peace knowing your kindness and love will continue to live on in the lives of whom you touched.

God's Garden

God looked around his Garden and found an empty place

He then looked down upon His earth and saw your tired face

God's Garden must be beautiful, he always takes the best

He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. 

He knew that you were suffering, He knew you were in pain

He knew that you would never get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough and the hills too hard to climb

He closed your weary eyelids and whispered "Peace be Thine"

It broke our hearts to lose you

But you didn't go alone

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home.