Obituary from flammfh.com:
Robert A Luke was born January 5, 1938 in Rigby, Idaho to Lowell Melvin and Merle (Archibald) Luke. When Dad was two, they moved to Menan. In 1945, the family bought a 140-acre farm near Salem with a house without indoor plumbing. Robert enjoyed farm life as the oldest of five children, though he had to wait a few years for Jean, Tom, Linda, and Maryann to arrive.
As a boy, Robert enjoyed collecting comic books, reading, carving, and fixing things. He also loved tools, tractors, and large trucks. He had plenty of opportunities to use them working on the farm, both for his father and for other farmers in the area. Robert was accustomed to hard work and worked hard his whole life. At the age of eight, he took on the responsibility of milking cows twice a day, by hand, getting up before the sun to milk in the cold eastern Idaho winters.
By the time he graduated from Sugar-Salem High School in 1956, he realized farm life wouldn't be feasible for him, so he attended Ricks College for two years before serving a mission in the Eastern States, mostly in Minnesota. When he returned, he studied physics at Utah State – perhaps because he got to play around with fulcrums and levers and liquid nitrogen – graduating with a PhD in 1968.
While in Logan, he met and married DeVona Dean, and they welcomed David and James to their family. Jeffrey, Deborah, Catherine, Jared, and Matthew were all born in Boise after he accepted an offer to teach at what was then Boise Jr. College. He remained as it grew to become Boise State University. He loved teaching, and his children loved stopping at his office between classes to grab a granola bar or play with the models on his desk! Despite being a bit reserved in crowds, Robert truly enjoyed teaching and was comfortable in front of large groups teaching physics, math, and radiology classes at BSU, as well as gospel doctrine in church settings. He was proud of how many students he had the chance to teach and frequently ran into former students who expressed their appreciation for him. He served as department chair for 21 years, retiring in 2004 but teaching classes here and there until 2007.
In 1971, Robert and DeVona built their house on Pattie Drive where they raised their children. Robert and family provided significant sweat equity during construction, and after moving in, he finished the basement, yard, and built an addition, all by hand. He did it all – framing, electrical, drywall, plumbing, roofing, and even mixing and pouring concrete for large patios, sidewalks, and more.
Robert was a man of simple tastes and never stopped being a farmer at heart or stopped working hard. He was happy building things and fixing things and always had some sort of project going in the house. He could often be found puttering around the yard with a shovel. When he visited his children, he always wanted a project he could work on for them, too. He kept an eye on the weather and was thankful for rain and snow and worried every year about having enough irrigation water.
Robert was a stalwart member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in many callings, including as bishop of the Meridian 19th ward, as well as serving on the high council, as a clerk, teaching various Sunday School classes, Cub Scouts, and so on. As a physicist, he was keenly interested in the relationship between science and religion, and his faith in God allowed him to see the synergies and wait patiently for explanations sure to come in time.
Robert worked in the Boise Temple with DeVona for 12 years; his service included working as a shift coordinator and in the recorder's office. He loved working in the temple and served there as long as he could before DeVona's health created other priorities.
Robert and DeVona left their Boise home of half a century and moved to Logan, Utah in 2019. He enjoyed being closer to his siblings who passed through regularly at their new place. He lost DeVona in March of 2022, after being married for 58 years. Robert was diagnosed with lymphomic cancer in October, and passed away peacefully December 29, 2022 at Birch Creek Assisted Living in Smithfield, Utah. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Symbii Hospice and the staff at Birch Creek.
Robert is survived by his children, David (Yumiko) of Boise, Idaho; James (Beth) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Jeffrey (Maria) of Middleton, Idaho; Deborah Hirschi (Greg) of Logan, Utah; Catherine Prestwich (John) of Moscow, Idaho; and Matthew (Kellie) of Santa Rita, Guam. He also left behind 22 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, DeVona; a son, Jared; two grandchildren; and his parents.
Viewings will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7th in Rexburg at Flamm Funeral Home, then 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 12th and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Friday, January 13th at the Meridian Idaho East Stake Center at 11443 McMillan Rd, Boise. The funeral service will begin immediately after the viewing on Friday, January 13th at 11:00am, followed by a brief graveside service and interment at Dry Creek Cemetery.
Robert A Luke was born January 5, 1938 in Rigby, Idaho to Lowell Melvin and Merle (Archibald) Luke. When Dad was two, they moved to Menan. In 1945, the family bought a 140-acre farm near Salem with a house without indoor plumbing. Robert enjoyed farm life as the oldest of five children, though he had to wait a few years for Jean, Tom, Linda, and Maryann to arrive.
As a boy, Robert enjoyed collecting comic books, reading, carving, and fixing things. He also loved tools, tractors, and large trucks. He had plenty of opportunities to use them working on the farm, both for his father and for other farmers in the area. Robert was accustomed to hard work and worked hard his whole life. At the age of eight, he took on the responsibility of milking cows twice a day, by hand, getting up before the sun to milk in the cold eastern Idaho winters.
By the time he graduated from Sugar-Salem High School in 1956, he realized farm life wouldn't be feasible for him, so he attended Ricks College for two years before serving a mission in the Eastern States, mostly in Minnesota. When he returned, he studied physics at Utah State – perhaps because he got to play around with fulcrums and levers and liquid nitrogen – graduating with a PhD in 1968.
While in Logan, he met and married DeVona Dean, and they welcomed David and James to their family. Jeffrey, Deborah, Catherine, Jared, and Matthew were all born in Boise after he accepted an offer to teach at what was then Boise Jr. College. He remained as it grew to become Boise State University. He loved teaching, and his children loved stopping at his office between classes to grab a granola bar or play with the models on his desk! Despite being a bit reserved in crowds, Robert truly enjoyed teaching and was comfortable in front of large groups teaching physics, math, and radiology classes at BSU, as well as gospel doctrine in church settings. He was proud of how many students he had the chance to teach and frequently ran into former students who expressed their appreciation for him. He served as department chair for 21 years, retiring in 2004 but teaching classes here and there until 2007.
In 1971, Robert and DeVona built their house on Pattie Drive where they raised their children. Robert and family provided significant sweat equity during construction, and after moving in, he finished the basement, yard, and built an addition, all by hand. He did it all – framing, electrical, drywall, plumbing, roofing, and even mixing and pouring concrete for large patios, sidewalks, and more.
Robert was a man of simple tastes and never stopped being a farmer at heart or stopped working hard. He was happy building things and fixing things and always had some sort of project going in the house. He could often be found puttering around the yard with a shovel. When he visited his children, he always wanted a project he could work on for them, too. He kept an eye on the weather and was thankful for rain and snow and worried every year about having enough irrigation water.
Robert was a stalwart member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in many callings, including as bishop of the Meridian 19th ward, as well as serving on the high council, as a clerk, teaching various Sunday School classes, Cub Scouts, and so on. As a physicist, he was keenly interested in the relationship between science and religion, and his faith in God allowed him to see the synergies and wait patiently for explanations sure to come in time.
Robert worked in the Boise Temple with DeVona for 12 years; his service included working as a shift coordinator and in the recorder's office. He loved working in the temple and served there as long as he could before DeVona's health created other priorities.
Robert and DeVona left their Boise home of half a century and moved to Logan, Utah in 2019. He enjoyed being closer to his siblings who passed through regularly at their new place. He lost DeVona in March of 2022, after being married for 58 years. Robert was diagnosed with lymphomic cancer in October, and passed away peacefully December 29, 2022 at Birch Creek Assisted Living in Smithfield, Utah. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Symbii Hospice and the staff at Birch Creek.
Robert is survived by his children, David (Yumiko) of Boise, Idaho; James (Beth) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Jeffrey (Maria) of Middleton, Idaho; Deborah Hirschi (Greg) of Logan, Utah; Catherine Prestwich (John) of Moscow, Idaho; and Matthew (Kellie) of Santa Rita, Guam. He also left behind 22 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, DeVona; a son, Jared; two grandchildren; and his parents.
Viewings will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7th in Rexburg at Flamm Funeral Home, then 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 12th and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Friday, January 13th at the Meridian Idaho East Stake Center at 11443 McMillan Rd, Boise. The funeral service will begin immediately after the viewing on Friday, January 13th at 11:00am, followed by a brief graveside service and interment at Dry Creek Cemetery.
Obituary from flammfh.com:
Robert A Luke was born January 5, 1938 in Rigby, Idaho to Lowell Melvin and Merle (Archibald) Luke. When Dad was two, they moved to Menan. In 1945, the family bought a 140-acre farm near Salem with a house without indoor plumbing. Robert enjoyed farm life as the oldest of five children, though he had to wait a few years for Jean, Tom, Linda, and Maryann to arrive.
As a boy, Robert enjoyed collecting comic books, reading, carving, and fixing things. He also loved tools, tractors, and large trucks. He had plenty of opportunities to use them working on the farm, both for his father and for other farmers in the area. Robert was accustomed to hard work and worked hard his whole life. At the age of eight, he took on the responsibility of milking cows twice a day, by hand, getting up before the sun to milk in the cold eastern Idaho winters.
By the time he graduated from Sugar-Salem High School in 1956, he realized farm life wouldn't be feasible for him, so he attended Ricks College for two years before serving a mission in the Eastern States, mostly in Minnesota. When he returned, he studied physics at Utah State – perhaps because he got to play around with fulcrums and levers and liquid nitrogen – graduating with a PhD in 1968.
While in Logan, he met and married DeVona Dean, and they welcomed David and James to their family. Jeffrey, Deborah, Catherine, Jared, and Matthew were all born in Boise after he accepted an offer to teach at what was then Boise Jr. College. He remained as it grew to become Boise State University. He loved teaching, and his children loved stopping at his office between classes to grab a granola bar or play with the models on his desk! Despite being a bit reserved in crowds, Robert truly enjoyed teaching and was comfortable in front of large groups teaching physics, math, and radiology classes at BSU, as well as gospel doctrine in church settings. He was proud of how many students he had the chance to teach and frequently ran into former students who expressed their appreciation for him. He served as department chair for 21 years, retiring in 2004 but teaching classes here and there until 2007.
In 1971, Robert and DeVona built their house on Pattie Drive where they raised their children. Robert and family provided significant sweat equity during construction, and after moving in, he finished the basement, yard, and built an addition, all by hand. He did it all – framing, electrical, drywall, plumbing, roofing, and even mixing and pouring concrete for large patios, sidewalks, and more.
Robert was a man of simple tastes and never stopped being a farmer at heart or stopped working hard. He was happy building things and fixing things and always had some sort of project going in the house. He could often be found puttering around the yard with a shovel. When he visited his children, he always wanted a project he could work on for them, too. He kept an eye on the weather and was thankful for rain and snow and worried every year about having enough irrigation water.
Robert was a stalwart member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in many callings, including as bishop of the Meridian 19th ward, as well as serving on the high council, as a clerk, teaching various Sunday School classes, Cub Scouts, and so on. As a physicist, he was keenly interested in the relationship between science and religion, and his faith in God allowed him to see the synergies and wait patiently for explanations sure to come in time.
Robert worked in the Boise Temple with DeVona for 12 years; his service included working as a shift coordinator and in the recorder's office. He loved working in the temple and served there as long as he could before DeVona's health created other priorities.
Robert and DeVona left their Boise home of half a century and moved to Logan, Utah in 2019. He enjoyed being closer to his siblings who passed through regularly at their new place. He lost DeVona in March of 2022, after being married for 58 years. Robert was diagnosed with lymphomic cancer in October, and passed away peacefully December 29, 2022 at Birch Creek Assisted Living in Smithfield, Utah. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Symbii Hospice and the staff at Birch Creek.
Robert is survived by his children, David (Yumiko) of Boise, Idaho; James (Beth) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Jeffrey (Maria) of Middleton, Idaho; Deborah Hirschi (Greg) of Logan, Utah; Catherine Prestwich (John) of Moscow, Idaho; and Matthew (Kellie) of Santa Rita, Guam. He also left behind 22 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, DeVona; a son, Jared; two grandchildren; and his parents.
Viewings will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7th in Rexburg at Flamm Funeral Home, then 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 12th and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Friday, January 13th at the Meridian Idaho East Stake Center at 11443 McMillan Rd, Boise. The funeral service will begin immediately after the viewing on Friday, January 13th at 11:00am, followed by a brief graveside service and interment at Dry Creek Cemetery.
Robert A Luke was born January 5, 1938 in Rigby, Idaho to Lowell Melvin and Merle (Archibald) Luke. When Dad was two, they moved to Menan. In 1945, the family bought a 140-acre farm near Salem with a house without indoor plumbing. Robert enjoyed farm life as the oldest of five children, though he had to wait a few years for Jean, Tom, Linda, and Maryann to arrive.
As a boy, Robert enjoyed collecting comic books, reading, carving, and fixing things. He also loved tools, tractors, and large trucks. He had plenty of opportunities to use them working on the farm, both for his father and for other farmers in the area. Robert was accustomed to hard work and worked hard his whole life. At the age of eight, he took on the responsibility of milking cows twice a day, by hand, getting up before the sun to milk in the cold eastern Idaho winters.
By the time he graduated from Sugar-Salem High School in 1956, he realized farm life wouldn't be feasible for him, so he attended Ricks College for two years before serving a mission in the Eastern States, mostly in Minnesota. When he returned, he studied physics at Utah State – perhaps because he got to play around with fulcrums and levers and liquid nitrogen – graduating with a PhD in 1968.
While in Logan, he met and married DeVona Dean, and they welcomed David and James to their family. Jeffrey, Deborah, Catherine, Jared, and Matthew were all born in Boise after he accepted an offer to teach at what was then Boise Jr. College. He remained as it grew to become Boise State University. He loved teaching, and his children loved stopping at his office between classes to grab a granola bar or play with the models on his desk! Despite being a bit reserved in crowds, Robert truly enjoyed teaching and was comfortable in front of large groups teaching physics, math, and radiology classes at BSU, as well as gospel doctrine in church settings. He was proud of how many students he had the chance to teach and frequently ran into former students who expressed their appreciation for him. He served as department chair for 21 years, retiring in 2004 but teaching classes here and there until 2007.
In 1971, Robert and DeVona built their house on Pattie Drive where they raised their children. Robert and family provided significant sweat equity during construction, and after moving in, he finished the basement, yard, and built an addition, all by hand. He did it all – framing, electrical, drywall, plumbing, roofing, and even mixing and pouring concrete for large patios, sidewalks, and more.
Robert was a man of simple tastes and never stopped being a farmer at heart or stopped working hard. He was happy building things and fixing things and always had some sort of project going in the house. He could often be found puttering around the yard with a shovel. When he visited his children, he always wanted a project he could work on for them, too. He kept an eye on the weather and was thankful for rain and snow and worried every year about having enough irrigation water.
Robert was a stalwart member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in many callings, including as bishop of the Meridian 19th ward, as well as serving on the high council, as a clerk, teaching various Sunday School classes, Cub Scouts, and so on. As a physicist, he was keenly interested in the relationship between science and religion, and his faith in God allowed him to see the synergies and wait patiently for explanations sure to come in time.
Robert worked in the Boise Temple with DeVona for 12 years; his service included working as a shift coordinator and in the recorder's office. He loved working in the temple and served there as long as he could before DeVona's health created other priorities.
Robert and DeVona left their Boise home of half a century and moved to Logan, Utah in 2019. He enjoyed being closer to his siblings who passed through regularly at their new place. He lost DeVona in March of 2022, after being married for 58 years. Robert was diagnosed with lymphomic cancer in October, and passed away peacefully December 29, 2022 at Birch Creek Assisted Living in Smithfield, Utah. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Symbii Hospice and the staff at Birch Creek.
Robert is survived by his children, David (Yumiko) of Boise, Idaho; James (Beth) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Jeffrey (Maria) of Middleton, Idaho; Deborah Hirschi (Greg) of Logan, Utah; Catherine Prestwich (John) of Moscow, Idaho; and Matthew (Kellie) of Santa Rita, Guam. He also left behind 22 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, DeVona; a son, Jared; two grandchildren; and his parents.
Viewings will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7th in Rexburg at Flamm Funeral Home, then 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 12th and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Friday, January 13th at the Meridian Idaho East Stake Center at 11443 McMillan Rd, Boise. The funeral service will begin immediately after the viewing on Friday, January 13th at 11:00am, followed by a brief graveside service and interment at Dry Creek Cemetery.
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