Francis S. (Frank) Luecke, Crestwood, KY
Francis S. Luecke was born on February 17, 1944 in Enid, Oklahoma to Joseph F. and Eva Agnes Luecke. He died on September 9, 2023 at a nursing home near his home in Crestwood, Kentucky, after losing a nearly yearlong battle trying to recover from a series of strokes.
Frank spent his first four years on the family farm near Okeene, Oklahoma.
In 1948 the family moved to Hays, Kansas. Frank attended grade school at Jefferson Elementary, then high school at St. Joseph Military Academy, where he graduated in 1962 at the top of his class. After high school, he attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. After graduating from Creighton, he enrolled at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where, in 1967, he received a degree in mechanical engineering, and a ROTC commission in the U.S. Army. Frank served his two years on active duty, after which he was employed by IBM in Rochester, Minnesota. At IBM, Frank and his team developed the first floppy disc backup system for computers, later to go on and develop optical (laser) storage systems.
Frank married JoAnn Reckner on June 4, 1966 in the chapel at Offutt Air Base in Omaha. From that union came daughter Kristan and son David.
Frank was always interested in things mechanical; during his high school years, he built a kit car, which served him during all his college years.
For the past 15 years, Frank and JoAnn have invested in future engineers and entrepreneurs through FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration & Recognition in Science & Technology). He strongly encouraged students to study subjects related to STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, Math).
Instead of flowers or other things, they encourage donations to KY FIRST Robotics, Inc. 120 Parker Lane, Nicholasville, KY 40356.
In the late 1980s IBM moved Frank to San Jose, California, where, in 1990, he resigned from IBM and co- founded New Focus, a company devoted to designing and developing optical tools for many industries.
Frank is survived by his wife JoAnn of 57 years; daughter Kristan Hastrich of Columbus Ohio; son David, (Heidi) of New Haven Connecticut; grandchildren James Hastrich and Jessica Hastrich; sister Alberta of Anacortes Washington; and brother William of Hays Kansas; as well as nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.