Richard Lukes

Monday, November 18, 2024 4:25 pm

Richard Lukes, age 69, of Calmar, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse, Wis., after a recent diagnosis of Metastic Melanoma.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at Pinters Garden & Pumpkins, 2475 IA-9, Decorah, IA 52101.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water St., in Decorah.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either of the following: Friends of Pools 9 & 10, and Prairie Farmer Bike Trail.

Rich was born on April 6, 1955, in Cresco, to Raymond and Christine (Riehle) Lukes and was the seventh of eight children. Rich attended Holy Trinity Parochial School in Protivin, through 8th grade and graduated from South Winneshiek High School in Calmar, IA in 1973.

Rich married the love of his life, Julie Tollefsrud, on Sept. 20, 1975, at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church in rural Dorchester. To this union three children were born, Amy, Adam and Allison. Rich and Julie loved taking family vacations across the U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska) and continued traveling together after becoming empty nesters.

Rich had a unique part-time job while in high school, butchering at the Protivin Locker.  After graduation, Rich worked at Camcar from 1973 until 1999. Rich took a hiatus from Camcar in 1999 and purchased the Spillville Locker (which Julie often referred to as Rich’s “mid-life crisis”).  From 1999 to 2008, Rich was a hands-on owner/operator of the Spillville Locker. His love of cooking and engineering helped Rich develop numerous recipes and processing methods. Under Rich’s leadership, Spillville Locker won several Iowa Meat Processors Association awards, including a Grand Champion Award for Kraut Burgers, which was a family favorite! In 2008, Rich returned to Camcar where he worked until his retirement in 2020.

During his 38-year career in the engineered fastener business, Rich worked his way up from the extruder line (at the age of 18) to retiring as the Director of Engineering for Stanley Engineered Fasteners.  Rich gained many dear friends throughout his career, and traveled the world from Rockford, Ill., to the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Taiwan and other Asian countries. Rich was awarded 36 U.S. Patents for products and manufacturing processes. As a natural engineer, Rich believed there was always a way to make things better. He brought this belief to his work and carried it to his faith, family, and friendships.

Rich loved spending his free time enjoying nature, bass fishing on the Mississippi River, camping on the sandbar, biking (including RAGBRAI), working in his flower gardens, and going on side-by-side rides with his loyal companion Ben. His children and grandchildren were his absolute pride and joy. Rich was an amazing husband, father and an even better grandpa! Rich always knew the importance of showing up to support those he loved, whether it was for Kaitlyn’s basketball games, Adelia’s softball games, or helping with Tevye and Levi’s homeschooling. Some of his greatest pleasures were creating “Jurassic World” and “Terabithia” with the grandkids, taking them fishing, going for a bike ride to a “secret spot”, heading to an Iowa Basketball game, and most importantly making “Grandpa Waffles” with strawberries and fresh whipped cream.

Rich always knew how blessed he was as a child of God. Much of the time spent at Gundersen was spent glorifying God for the life and people he was blessed with, reciting the Lord’s Prayer, and spending time in prayer and worship with family and visitors.

Rich is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Julie; daughter Amy (Rob) Gross, Mabel, Minn.., son Adam Lukes, Belleville, Ill., and daughter Allison (Lee Chapman) Lukes, Decorah; grandchildren: Kaitlyn Gross, La Crescent, Minn., Adelia Gross, Mabel, Minn,, Tevye and Levi Chapman, Decorah; siblings: Madonna (Art) Samec of Jesup,, Mary Ann (Duane) Panos of Swisher, Ray (Joyce) Lukes,of Protivin, Margie (Linus) Barloon of Decorah, Jim (Linda) Lukes of Decorah, Marcie (John) Miller of Waukon, and Millie (Larry) Vine of Davenport; brother-in-law, Jim (Lois) Tollefsrud, Dorchester; and sisters-in-law, Shirley (Ron) Bigler of Decorah, Cathy (Greg) Mohwinkle, Eitzen, Minn., and Cindy (Sam Hedrick) Palmer, Moline, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Christine (Riehle) Lukes; father and mother-in-law Gilman and Irene (Melbostad) Tollefsrud; and brother-in-law Steve Palmer.