John W. Luebs

John W. Luebs, 87, of Camillus, passed away Friday, May 27, 2016 at home. Born in Lincoln, NE on June 9, 1928, he graduated from Lincoln High School in 1946. He received a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 1953 and a Master of Hospital Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1960. Mr. Luebs received special training to design administrative services for rehabilitation facilities and sheltered workshops at the University of St. Louis, the University of San Francisco and the Civil Defense Agency Management in the State of Nebraska. His professional career included: owner of Fire Protection Inc. (service fire extinguishers and alarms); plant manager of Security Products Co. (manufacturers of industrial fire trucks and fire extinguishers) in Lincoln, NE; employee of Caterpillar Tractor Co. in Employee Relations in Peoria, IL; general hospital administrator in Nebraska and psychiatric hospitals in Missouri and Iowa; facilities’ consultant for public and private rehabilitation agencies of state education departments in Nebraska and Iowa; and owner of Human Resource Consultants in Nebraska for four years, serving clients across the country. After retiring in 1976, Mr. Luebs took over a chain of rural portrait studios in Nebraska and Kansas until he and his family moved to upstate New York in late 1984. Mr. Luebs performed many community volunteer activities wherever he lived. These included: consumer arbitrator for 13 years; private pilot and 1st Lt. in the Civil Air Patrol, where he received the NYS Recruiter of the Year Award in 1997; amateur (HAM) radio operator (N2PMQ); past president of R.A.G.S. Radio Club; radio operator for Onondaga County Emergency Management; president of Town of Camillus Historical Society; member of Board of Directors of the Camillus Ski Assn.; designer of plans for reopening Sainte Marie among the Iroquois (Onondaga County Museum), using volunteers and staying on one year as curator; volunteer for Tech Club program at Camillus Middle School for 10 years, teacher of student photography; volunteer curatorial aide and tour guide at Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Part, NY; volunteer fireman in Fairbury, NE; donator of a collection of over 600 film cameras and library materials to the Washington County Historical Society Museum; and a variety of other activities. Mr. Luebs was predeceased by his parents, Prof. August A. and Rachel Luebs; brother, Robert; wife, Laurel; and niece, Jenny Golderg. Surviving are his wife, Mariam; son, John K. (Wen Hao) of Camillus; daughter, Kathryn (Steve) Hubbell; grandchildren, Kira (Royce) and Matthew Hubbell of Lincoln, NE; and nieces, Barbara, Margaret and Nancy, all of California. There will be no calling hours or services. Contributions may be made to the Washington County Historical Society, 216 Ballard St., Washington, KS 66968.