Donald Lucht

Send Flowers Donald Dean Lucht November 1, 1927 - May 3, 2015 DONALD DEAN LUCHT passed away Sunday, May 3, 2015 in hospice care. He was born in Petersburg, IL on November 1, 1927 to Powell and Emma Lucht. He graduated from Petersburg Harris High School in 1944. He served in the United States Army as an Airborne paratrooper and defended our nation during World War II. After discharge he attended school in Ft. Collins, CO at Colorado A&M where he received his BS in Forest Entomology. After graduation he accepted a position with the Plant Quarantine and Regulatory service at New Mexico A&M in Las Cruces until he resigned in 1960 to pursue his MS at Purdue University. After receiving his degree he was employed by the US Forest Service as a Forest Entomologist in Rhinelander, WI where the family remained until 1962. Donald was transferred to the Albuquerque Regional Forest Service Office where he remained until 1976. He then returned to Las Cruces with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture as Chief of Plant Industry. He retired in 1987 and began a second career in agriculture, pursuing his first passion and love. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Doris, and sons: Gregory and wife Claudia and Garrett and wife Holly; grandsons Brandon and his son Cruz and Aaron, and Andrew and daughter Allyson and her mother Denise Briggs; daughters Stephanie and Katrina Beverage, husband Gary and grandson Benjamin. Donald is preceded in death by son Matthew. The family would like to offer a special acknowledgement for our dear friend Keli Adams. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service and celebration of his life is planned for a later date.