Luther Holroyd Buchele

March 18, 1920 - August 01, 2008 Cedar Vale, Kansas Age 88, died suddenly Friday, August 1, 2008 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Luther was born in Cedar Vale, Kansas on March 18, 1920, the son of Charles J and Bessie M (Fisher) Buchele; with his twin brother Wesley the youngest of seven boys. Luther received an A.B. in Zoology in l946 and an M. A. in Bacteriology in l948 from the University of Kansas, but his life changed course when he helped to found the University of Kansas Student Cooperative Association, becoming soon after (1949) the half-time Executive Secretary of the North American Student Cooperative League (NASCL).

Hired as the first Executive Secretary of the Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC) at the University of Michigan, Luther moved to Ann Arbor in 1951. At the ICC, he met Joan Alison Bross; and they married on February 4, l96l. Luther became the advisor and mentor to thousands of college students who lived in ICC’s cooperative houses over his 34 years with the organization. For his lifetime of service, he was honored by induction to the Student Cooperative Hall of Fame, and in 1987 to the National Cooperative Hall of Fame in Washington, DC. His humanity, integrity, wit, intelligence, caring, and commitment to cooperation as a way of life have been a beacon to people who came to the ICC from every corner of the world. ICC alumni took the co-op philosophy, as exemplified by Luther, into their lives and communities worldwide. His influence continued for over half a century, through and beyond his retirement from the ICC in 1985. Wherever he went, in word, deed and song, he spread the idea of “business for people, not for profit”. His legacy will live on in the cooperative spirit that nurtures people and businesses.

Luther was a longtime devoted member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Ann Arbor, and the Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of southwest Michigan. Luther is survived by his wife Joan, his twin brother Wesley, one son, Royd, three daughters, Theresa, Libbie (Eric), and Heidi (Mike) Harris, and, as he liked to say, “ 5 grandchildren under the age of 3”, the first two of whom are also fraternal twins, named for Luther and Wesley. Also in recent years, the two brothers completed a joint-autobiography of their 88 years, Just Call Us Lucky, to be published [in 2008] in Manchester Center VT. Luther was preceded in death by his parents and five older brothers.

Funeral services were held in Harbert, Michigan, on Tuesday, August 5, at 7 pm at the Prairie Club. A memorial service for Luther was held in Ann Arbor on Sunday, October 12 at 2 pm at the First Unitarian Univeralist Church, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Memorial contributions may be sent to the First UU Church (address above) or to the Inter-Cooperative Council, 337 E. William, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

A memorial website has been set up at http://lutherbuchele.legacy.com
Ann Arbor News: http://obits.mlive.com/AnnArbor/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=114876727.
Luther Buchele Cooperative House

Buchele Family website

Wesley and Luther at BUUF