William Wells Lucke
March 31, 1916 ~ January 24, 2007
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Arden ~ William Wells Lucke, 90, of Arden, died on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at his residence.
He was born in Helena, Montana and was the son of the late Robert J. Lucke and Naomi Dye Lucke. He retired from the US Army as a Major and was stationed in Australia during which time he was involved in multiple D–Day landings in the south pacific, earning four Bronze Stars and a Bronze Arrowhead. He worked as a salesman for the Bemis Company and called on customers throughout the pacific northwest. In his spare time, he was a life master bridge player and continued to play competitively in Asheville and Hendersonville until his death. He was a member of Refuge Baptist Church in Hendersonville.
Mr. Lucke is survived by his wife of 61 years, Selma Johnson Lucke; a daughter, Janis Lucke of Seattle, WA; two sons, Robert W. Lucke and wife Janet of Denver, CO and John Lucke, MD and wife Barbara of Asheville; four grandchildren, Bryan, Kristen, Taylor and Austin.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday in the chapel of the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with the Rev. Alvin Melton officiating.
Military honors will be conducted by the Buncombe County Veterans Memorial Team.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road is in charge of arrangements.
John and family,
We are so sorry to hear about your beloved father. Your father was a very caring and gentle man who I will always remember. Take care and we are thinking of you.
We met Bill Lucke, while he was visiting, Selma, at Life Care Center. We minister at Life Care Center, each Sunday Morning. We are Adjunct Chaplain for Life Care Center.
We send our condolences to the family at this time. May God Bless.
John,Selma,Janis,and Bob,
I have wondered for years where you are. Unfortunately, I saw in the paper that your dad recently passed away. I was sad to see that. We spent a lot of time together between fourth and ninth grades. Big Bill was a part of that. Projects and chores around the house. Trips to the beach at 3 in the morning to go clamming. I’ll never forget him barefoot and in shorts, braving the frigid air and water, clam bag hanging fom his waste, getting after it in the surf while I was freezing. The green Plymouth Fury. His fast driving. Smelt fishing in LaConnor. Watching golf, or the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Picking up dog piles barehanded. Camping at Silver Falls ??? State Park in Oregon.
I have really fond memories from my childhood and you and your family were a big part of that. Clam chowder in the kitchen. Playing Risk with brother Bob. ‘Kamchatka, Defend yourself!’ Shooting hoops across the alley. Mowing the church lawn. Boy Scouts. MYF. Church dances. Sand Point Church basketball. VR football.
I’m sorry about your dad. How is your mom, brother and sister? Give my best to them all. I’d love to hear from you at some point just to catch up on the last 30 years. I think I last saw you at the WAC. That was when you were living in Arizona, I believe.
Thinking of you all,
Jack
Please be comforted by the many fond memories of a man who helped define The Greatest Generation. Celebrate the life of a valiant soldier, an upstanding citizen and a loving husband, father and grandfather.
dr. lucke, losing your father must be difficult. my thoughts are with you and your family.
John and family. It was with great sorrow that I read of the death of your father. Please know that he always cheered us up at Carolina First and we will miss him greatly.
Dear Selma, Bob, Jan, John and your families;
So many years with so many happy memories! Becoming acquainted in the early 1960’s when we worked with Selma for the March of Dimes in the regional office in Seattle.
Bill and Selma introduced us to clam digging at Pacific Beach and we all stayed at the Motel there while cleaning and freezing many, many limits!
It was great to watch the children grow, become educated and prosper. John, do you remember the night you broke your leg playing football for Lakeside and your parents were away on vacation?
We moved next door to Bill and Selma in Edmonds and shared a huge, productive garden space. Bill was a great gardener and shared his expertise with us! We missed you when you moved away.
Our visits to the Lucke home on the golf course in Anacortes and then in Arizona. We never did get to your North Carolina home though we did talk on the phone with Bill and kept track of you with Jan.
God bless you all – you shall be forever in our memories.
John, Barbara, and Family, We always relate to those who lose a parent. Regardless of age, health, or any other circumstance we are never ready to give them up. The only comfort has to come from our Faith in the Sovereignty of God and the manifested concern of caring friends. Please know we are thinking of you and just hope in some small way it helps to know that others do care. Zunita and Joe
Bill and I became friends at the various duplicate bridge games we attended in Hendersonville and Tryon over the past several years and played as partners once or twice. He was remarkable in his military and professional achievements as well as in his ability to live robustly in great age, and was one of the most intersting people I have known. And I must say I’m very glad to have known him. His like won’t be coming our way again.
Dr. Lucke I was sadened to here of the lost of your father. May peace be with you and your family.
We were saddened to hear of your father’s death. Although it is hard to lose someone, you have many good memories of him and the times you spent together. Our hearts and prayers are with you and your family.