Long-time SPS driver retires

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After 44 years as a bus driver and mechanic, Del Luebbe has retired from Seward Public Schools.

Luebbe grew up in Garland on his family’s farm and now lives in Seward.

Luebbe started out at Hughes Brothers and worked there for five years, worked at a filming station job for a little under a year and then started working for SPS.

“A job opened up to be a bus driver and mechanic for them,” he said. “They offered the job to me and I took it.”

Luebbe said he enjoyed working for SPS.

“It was really easy to work with them,” he said. “Work was always steady. You always had something to do. It becomes easy when you get to work with the same people.”

SPS superintendent Josh Fields said Luebbe’s number of years working for the school was amazing.

“Doing 44 years of service for Seward Public Schools, he’s a legend,” Fields said. “To have that many years and that much dedication for the students and parents is incredible. He will be missed.”

Although he’s experienced many things as a driver and mechanic, one of Luebbe’s most interesting memories was when a kid jumped out of a bus window.

“We were at a stop and he decided to go out a window,” he said. “There’s not a whole lot you can do about it. I saw who it was and he wasn’t hurt, so I just reported it to the school.”

Over his years at SPS, Luebbe learned that being a driver and mechanic can be difficult, but rewarding.

“I’ve done so many things as a mechanic, because everything you do down there, every mistake you make will come back to haunt you,” he said. “Everything has to be done better than it was originally. The job is challenging, but I’ve learned a lot.”

Luebbe credits part of his learning process to Marty Telecky, Transportation Director at SPS.

“When I started working, I worked on all gas busses,” he said. “From there, we switched over to diesel buses. Marty was a diesel mechanic, so my transition was much easier because of him.”

Luebbe hasn’t only been a driver and mechanic. Over his life, Luebbe said he’s gotten involved in amateur radio and is internationally certified as an electronic technician, custom painting, piloting and is currently in a band, Boondox. Boondox is a country western and classic rock band.

“Opportunities open up all the time,” he said. “I can’t say I’m proficient at everything, but I at least know how to do them.”

Now that Luebbe is retired from SPS, he said he’s looking to wind down for at least a week.

“Other than being in the band, I’m not looking for anything full-time, just to fill in,” he said.