Charles Thomas Luke Sr. "Skip"

Jan 16, 1937 -

Aug 29, 2021

Charles Thomas Luke "Skip," 84, of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away on Aug. 29, 2021, after battling cancer.

Skip was born in Wayne County, Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 16, 1937, to Elmer and Charlotte Hawthorne. His family lived and owned a small resort on Lake George, Ind. They rented vacation cabins and small boats to vacationers. In his words, "I had a wonderful childhood." He took his stepfather's last name and has been known as Charles Thomas Luke "Skip" since grade school.

Skip attended St. Charles High School in Coldwater, Mich., where he became a star on his high school basketball team and graduated high school in early 1955. He attended Tri State Engineering School in Angola, Ind., and studied business administration, and taught a class in comparative religion for a little over a year. In 1956, he left college and joined the Air Force and stationed at Chickapea Falls, Miss. Skip spent one year as a tactical instructor and trained for B52 mechanic and received an honorable discharge from the Air Force. He always held great compassion and respect for all veterans, and in 2016 was an Alaska VA Medical Center volunteer in Anchorage.

In 1957-1962, he had three children with his first wife, Anne Wilkens (deceased): Christopher Charles Luke (deceased), Katherine Anne Luke and Joseph Scott Luke. He married Bonita Maria Solerno, "Bonnie," in 1964, and they had three children: Charles Thomas Luke Jr., Helen Marie Luke and Samuel Adam Luke. Skip is survived by four of his five sisters; stepchildren; and many grandchildren.

In 1961, he joined the Southern California Carpenters Union. He came to Alaska in the summer of 1982, and joined the Southern Alaska Carpenters, Local 1281, and retired in 1990. He purchased a carpet cleaning franchise 1990, and purchased a carpet cleaning franchise that he owned and managed until 1997. His love of golf led him to his next career in golf. He worked at Settlers Bay Golf Course in Mat-Su Borough, Alaska, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Southern Oregon, and finally at Anchorage Golf Course from 2013 through 2020, where he supervised the Player Assistant staff.

He married Donna Ann Conner in 1986, who predeceased him in 1996.

He married Norma (Vogt) Mulkey in 1997, and she was by his side right up to his passing after 24 years of marriage. Skip is also survived by his stepchildren, Misty and Logan and their children.

Skip has touched many people with his kindness and wonderful sense of humor. He was a gentle bear of a man who loved his family very much. He said he was happiest "in a boat, fishing Deep Creek with friends." He had a lifelong passion for planes of any kind, golf, reading, basketball and strumming the guitar.

The family would like to thank the Anchorage Veteran's doctors and nurses and Ancora Home Health & Hospice Chaplain Mike and nurses, particularly, Rueben and Valerie, who provided comfort and care for Skip in his final days.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sept. 12, 2021, at the Moose Lodge, 4211 Arctic Boulevard in Anchorage, from 2-4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear masks.