Carl Lukkes

Carl Theodore Lukkes entered into rest on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the age of 89 years 10 months and 5 days, at his home in Snowflake, Arizona surrounded by some of his large, loving family. Carl lived a long and active life but was slowed by health challenges in the last few years. Throughout his life Carl's sense of humor never failed to delight and engage his family and friends. He was especially fond of word play, puns and had a ready supply of humorous stories that he shared with family, friends and students.

Carl was a scholar and athlete during his years in high school and college. His best sport was basketball, and he played in college for Southern State Teachers College, Springfield, SD from 1953-55, graduating  with Bachelor of Science in Education in 1957. Carl received recognition as a college freshman that he was an alternate for the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. After graduation Carl was an assistant coach in football, basketball and track at Newell High School, Newell, SD as well as physics and math teacher. Carl began working on his master's degree in physics through a National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD and graduated in 1962. Carl then accepted a position at Rapid City Cathedral High School as head basketball and football coach and teaching math, chemistry, and physics there. Carl guided the basketball team through its first undefeated season in 1964 before resigning in the spring of 1965. Carl then moved his growing family to Chadron, NE when he accepted a position at Chadron State College (CSC)in 1965, teaching various math and physics courses while conducting research with fellow faculty in studying and chasing summer storms for four years with an NSF Grant, catching numerous hail stones for examination to determine if "cloud seeding" was contributing to hail stone production. Carl started each class with a joke or funny story, frequently about his large family, of which he was quite proud. Carl retired from CSC in 1994 and was recognized with the degree of Associate Professor Emeritus.

Carl married the late Kathryn (Kay) Wortman in Rushville, SD in 1955. To this union were born nine daughters and one son. Carl married Patricia (Pat) Murphy in Chadron, NE in 1984. Carl and Pat had the pleasure of celebrating 40 years of marriage this past September. Carl was preceded in death by his father, Hans K. Lukkes and his mother, Bernice C. Holter. His older brother Harry D. Lukkes and partner Susan Stair reside in North Canton, OH.

Carl and Pat had a blended family of ten daughters and four sons. His loving daughters and spouses are Kathy (Gregg) Richards, Floresville, TX; Carol (Paul) Bankston, Denver, CO; Karen (the late Max) Hartman, Snowflake, AZ; Christina (Dan) Knotek, Council Bluffs, IA; Carmen (Chuck) Carrier, Papillion, NE; Carla (Kent) Liesemeyer, Mesa, AZ; Colette (John) Witkowski, Thornton, CO; Kimberly (Kenny) Tomka, Lyons, NE; Kelly (Boyd) Elliott, Omaha, NE; and Tricia (Paul) Pietig, Des Moines, IA. His loving sons are Carl L. (Shawna) Lukkes, Culpeper, VA; John (Melanie) Murphy, Rumney, NH; Daniel (Donna) Murphy, Ashland, NH; Mike (Irene) Murphy, Wichita, KS. Carl and Pat between them have 37 grandchildren and at least 39 great grandchildren at last count!

Carl was also a lover of music and played in a dance band in college, continuing a family tradition as his own father and several uncles were also performers in a dance band in the 1930s. Carl was quietly quite proud of his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments, and relished their musical talents, particularly their singing and guitar playing. Their music brought him peace and solace at the end of his life.

Funeral services are planned for Monday, March 10, 2025, at the White Mountain Chapel, Owens Livingston Mortuary, 320 N. 9th Street, Show Low, AZ. Burial date and time is pending, and it is planned to be at the Lukkes Family Cemetery, Springfield, SD.