Luther "Bud" Nitschke, age 87, of rural Cambridge, KS, died October 10, 2016 at home.

There will be no funeral but the family will appreciate greeting you at the viewing from 6-8 on Thursday evening on October 13, 2016 at Miles Funeral Service at 4001 East 9th Ave east of Winfield. Private burial will be at the Cambridge Cemetery.

Bud was born October 13, 1929, in a farm house north of Booker, TX to Samuel and Martha (Kelln) Nitschke. He lived his childhood in the Texas Panhandle, moving to Winfield, KS in 1946 to attend St. John's Academy and Junior College. He was united in marriage to Janet Leitner on December 26, 1951 in Wichita, KS.

Bud served two years in the United States Army from 1952-1954, followed by farming and ranching in eastern Cowley County until moving to Wichita in 1959. He graduated from Wichita University in 1962 and began a 24-year career as an agent in the Internal Revenue Service. This work required traveling to locations throughout the United States. For a period of time, he traveled around the world when he was assigned as a US Sky Marshal incognito to ride on international commercial airlines in 1970 to avert hijacking. Flights took him to European capitals; plus Guam, Okinawa, Hong Kong, Bombay, Taiwan and Tel Aviv.

Later he owned and operated the BJN Hereford Cattle Ranch, 14 miles east of Winfield, moving there in 1973. He and his wife, Janet, a Business Teacher at North High School in Wichita, continued their careers by commuting for 16 years.

Bud was a member of the following organizations: American Legion; Kansas Peace Officers; Federal Criminal Investigators; American, Kansas, and Cowley County Livestock Associations; Kansas Hereford Association; University Club, and Lands and People Travel Club, both of Wichita; and Board Member and past President of the Wichita Farm and Ranch Club. He was a past Chairman of the Cowley Rural Water District #5; and a member of the Eastern Cowley County preservation group called S.O.I.L. (Save Our Industries and Land). Bud was a member of the Maple City Community Church of rural Dexter.

He was the recipient of the following Agricultural Awards: the Kansas Bankers Soil Conservation Award in 1976 and the Cowley County Range Management Award in 1993. The Albert Gallatin Award of the United States Department of Treasury was awarded to him in 1988.

In retirement years, Bud participated in the Prison Ministry, serving as a group leader and a mentor in correctional facilities in Winfield and Ellsworth. Another retirement activity meaningful to him was attending the Men's Promise Keepers Rallies at various locations: Kansas City, Oklahoma City with church friends, Little Rock with his grandson, Jess Nitschke, Phoenix with his nephew, Sam Nitschke, New York City with his nephew-in-law, Charles Bunce. A real highlight was the Washington D.C. Rally with his son, George Nitschke, which was attended by over one million Christian men.

Bud and Janet traveled to all 48 mainland states, plus Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and Israel. The family lived one summer in Washington D.C. where Bud was in training for his career job with the Internal Revenue Service. Three trips to Europe covered the southern countries, the northern countries, and a later trip to Russia with a mission group to distribute Bibles in the Russian language in 1997. After over seventy years of communism, the Bibles were very well received in the schools, hospitals, prisons, and on the streets. No one prohibited this distribution activity. The Nitschkes enjoyed a Christian Cruise to the Bahamas in 2002 with the ship's bars and casinos closed.

Survivors include his wife, Janet of the home; daughter, Ava Nitschke, Brownwood, TX; son, Dr. George Nitschke and wife, Laurie, New Ipswich, NH; grandson, Jess Nitschke, Brownwood, TX; granddaughter, Angela Nitschke, Boston, MA; six nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Martha Nitschke, brother, Robert and wife, Elizabeth Nitschke and sister, Mayme and husband, Dr. Norbert Kauffeld.

Bud's favorite Bible passages:
Psalms 136:1 Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by Grace you have been saved through faith and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Revelations 3:20 Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.

These Bible passages, among many others, helped direct my life on my earthly journey. ~Bud