Pastor Harold Luecke

Pastor Harold Luecke, 85, of Northwood, ND passed away Thursday, July 1, 2021, at his home in Northwood surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Ebenezer Free Lutheran Church in Northwood. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.

Harold was born April 25, 1936 in St. Albans, Queens, NY to Adolf and Appolonia (Hauschild) Luecke. Through the influence of the Lutheran church he came to the midwest to attend Waldorf University in Forest City, IA and later graduated from Concordia College in Morehead, MN in 1962. In 1964 he married Carol Thorsgard. After graduating from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN in 1967 he was ordained at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, MN where he served as a youth pastor for five years. Harold served several parishes throughout his ministry including: 25 years at Our Saviors in Lyle, MN; four years in North Dakota at Tri County Ministry, which included seven ELCA Lutheran churches located in Cooperstown, Binford, Hannaford, Glenfield, McHenry, and Grace City, and continued to serve part time throughout his retirement at Augustana in Grand Forks, Family of God in East Grand Forks, West Union in Northwood, and Sundahl and Ottowa in Aneta.
Those who knew Harold knew of his positive, enthusiastic, supportive, and childlike nature. God gave him many gifts, but the one he was most known for was his ability to live in constant joy. He found joy in all things: his family, church community, golf, the Yankees/Vikings, and boasting about his children and grandchildren’s accomplishments, to name a few.
Harold’s life was a prime illustration of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” This is how he will be remembered.
Harold is survived by his wife, Carol; siblings: Virginia (George) Kuebrich, Barbara (John) Carleo, and Arthur Luecke; children: Mya (David) Segerholm, Arne Luecke, and Anna (Craig) Nystrom; grandchildren: Beth and Blake Segerholm, Aiden and Ethan Nystrom; and many nieces/nephews.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents Adolf and Appolonia Luecke.