Luke Lamb

Luke Francis Lamb died on Aug. 28, 2021, at Unity Hospice in De Pere, Wis. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, on Sept. 15, 1932, to Mary Arlene Schwarz Lamb and Luke R. Lamb, Luke Francis (known in his youth as Fritz) lived with his extended family in Pocatello until marrying Marjorie Anna Brehm (of Rickardsville, Iowa) on Dec. 28, 1954.

Although Luke began his career as a U.S. Army officer, serving at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla., and in Darmstadt, Germany, by 1958 he was a graduate student at the University of Missouri, where he earned a doctorate in educational administration in 1961. Two years later, Lamb moved his young family to Corvallis, Ore.; in 1968 they moved a final time, to Madison, Wis., where Luke continued to live until August 2020. He spent most of his distinguished academic career as Dean of Educational Communications and Extension at the University of Wisconsin, which included WHA Public Radio and TV. He retired from the University of Wisconsin in 1995.

Before and after his retirement, Luke was an avid volunteer, serving in various functions at St. Paul’s Catholic Center, St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, and Our Lady Queen of Peace; at Oakwood Village University Woods; for the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District; and for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

Luke was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marjorie Brehm Lamb; his mother, Mary Arlene Lamb; his father, Luke R. Lamb; and his sister, JoAnn Lamb. He is survived by his three daughters—Cynthia Lamb (Gary Umhoefer) of Green Bay, Wis.; Lynette Lamb (Robert Gerloff) of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Mary Beth Lamb (Dwight Larsen) of St. Louis Park, Minn., eight grandchildren—Caroline (Michael Aperauch), Gregory (Anna Paige), and Stephen Umhoefer; Grace and Julia Gerloff; and Lucas, Nathan, and Emma Kempf; and one great-grandchild, Henry Aperauch.

A Memorial Mass will be held for Luke on Monday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church (401 S. Owen Dr., Madison), with visitation beginning one hour beforehand. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts would be appreciated to any of the following organizations: PBS Wisconsin (P.O. Box 7929, Madison, Wis., 53707-7929); Wisconsin Public Radio Association (P.O. Box 88025, Milwaukee, Wis., 53288-8025); Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation (30 W. Mifflin St., Suite 200, Madison, Wis., 53703); or Unity Hospice (2366 Oak Ridge Circle, De Pere, Wis., 54115).

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434