Wayne Lukens lost a year-long battle with brain cancer on April 12. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family. Wayne was many things: Naval officer, pilot, Seabee, businessman, but will be most remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, and indulgent grandfather.
Wayne was born on January 29, 1940, in Bakersfield, CA, to Wendell and Helen Lukens. He started high school at Wheelus Air Base High School in Tripoli, Libya, and graduated from Bishop Armstrong High School in Sacramento, CA. Wayne received a BA from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA, and an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH.
After joining the Navy in 1961, Wayne served for four years as a supply officer aboard the ammunition ship USS Mauna Kea with the Pacific Fleet during the Vietnam War. He continued serving in the Naval Reserves until 1982.
While in the Navy, Wayne met Edie Lambert of Hudson, MA, in San Francisco, and the two married in 1965. Wayne worked for Rust Craft Greeting Cards in Hudson, where they had three sons, Wayne Jr, Erik, and David. The family moved to Loveland, OH, in 1979, and Wayne worked for Gibson Greeting Cards, retiring as vice president of marketing. For the following 20 years, he was a consultant for several companies in the U.K. After their sons went to college, Wayne and Edie moved to Scarborough, ME, for several years before relocating to Bend, OR, in 1998.
Wayne enjoyed flying, travel, golf, and outdoor activities. He enjoyed hiking and kayaking in the Cascades, taking car trips throughout the U.S., and playing golf and poker with friends. He and Edie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 2015.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Edie; son Wayne and daughter-in-law Kim Liu (Oakland, CA); son Erik and daughter-in-law Michelle Mulder and their children, Leo, Joseph, and Owen (Lake Oswego, OR); and son David and daughter-in-law Stephanie Batcos and their children, Cecilia and Nikolas (Milton, GA).
Services will be held on Saturday, April 16, at Deschutes Memorial Chapel, 63875 N Hwy 97, Bend. The memorial service will begin at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Wayne Lukens to The Shepherd’s House, PO Box 5484, Bend, OR 97708.