Date : 01 Oct 2006
Location : St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery, New Munster, WI
Richard Francis Luke, 87, of Waterford, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at Geneva Lake Manor in Lake Geneva.
He was born Nov. 1, 1920, in Wheatland, to Frank and Ada (nee Dean) Luke. He spent his early life in Wheatland and graduated from St. Alphonsus Grade School in 1934. He was the last surviving member of the class. On July 5, 1941, he married Mary Margaret McManus at Holy Name Catholic Church in Wilmot. She preceded him in death on Nov. 26, 2000. He was a lifetime resident of Wheatland.
Richard was a carpenter and contractor. He and his brother established Luke Brothers Construction Company in 1958. In 1975 Richard went into business for himself, retiring in 1982.
He was a lifetime member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in New Munster, a trustee and usher and a former member of the Holy Name Society of the church. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was a former member of the Wheatland Fire Department, Town of Wheatland Planning Commission and the Town of Wheatland Recreation Park Board. He was a 4-H Club woodworking leader as well as coach for Lakeland Little League and Babe Ruth League in Western Kenosha County. Dick enjoyed golf and he liked to hunt at his cottage in Springstead.
Survivors include his children, Gerald Luke of Springstead, Allen Luke of Orlando, Fla., Marietta (Jerry) Vogt of Burlington, John Luke of Paris; grandchildren, Jennifer (Joe) Fitzgerald of Grand Rapids, Mich., Amy Vogt of Racine, Kim (Kyle) Anderson of New Berlin, Emily (Nick Fassler) of Berkeley, Calif.; great grandchildren, Isabelle, Connor and Kathleen Fitzgerald of Grand Rapids, Mich., Lucas Anderson of New Berlin; brother, Don (June) Luke of Springstead; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, son, Richard Luke, Jr. and daughter, Lorena Luke.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, at 11 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in New Munster with Rev. Mike Erwin officiating. Burial will follow at St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with the family on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 4 - 8 p.m., with a prayer vigil at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials have been suggested to St. Alphonsus Church or Hospice Alliance.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Burlington Memorial Hospital Wing 2 Nursing Staff, the staff of Lake Geneva Manor, and Hospice Alliance for their compassionate care of Richard.
Kenosha News - Sep 29, 2008
