Neil Robert Luebke

Neil Robert Luebke, 72, of Stillwater died on June 18, 2009 at the Stillwater Medical Center surrounded by his immediate family. A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Christian Church, 411 W. Matthews, on Friday, July 10 at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Sally Houck, Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church, officiating.
An Oklahoma State University Regents Service Professor Emeritus, Luebke was born to Carl Robert and Cinderetta Amelia (Guthmann) Luebke in Pierce, Nebraska on September 15, 1936. Luebke attended public schools in Nebraska and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Midland Lutheran College (Fremont, Nebraska) in 1958. He was named a Woodrow Wilson Fellow that year and attended graduate school in the Department of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland) where he earned his PhD. In 1994, Luebke received the Alumni Achievement Award from his undergraduate alma mater.
He married Phyllis Jean Madsen at Grace Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska on June 15, 1957, and in 1961 the couple moved to Stillwater when Luebke joined the OSU Philosophy Department. He was Department Head fro 16 years and retired in 1998 after 37 years of service. Professionally, Luebke served on countless university committees, published several articles and gave numerous presentations locally as well as nationally, primarily in the field of professional ethics and social philosophy. During the course of his career, he was elected Chairman of the Mountain Plains Philosophy Conference and President of the Southwester Philosophical Association, served on the OSU Faculty Council, directed an externally funded critical thinking project, designed and initiated both Engineering and Business Ethics courses, served on the board of the Oklahoma Humanities Committee, taught 15 different courses in philosophy and humanities and mentored many graduate students.
Luebke continued university service after retirement and played a major role in formulating current OSU Academic Integrity policy. After local involvement with the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Luebke was elected National President (1998-2001) and served on its board for 12 years. He lived the societys motto: Let the love of learning rule humanity.
A life-long Christian, Luebke was very active in the Salem Lutheran Church faith community where he taught confirmation classes, trained acolytes, served twice as Council President and was also church treasurer. At the time of his death, he was the incoming Chair of the Statewide Board of the Osher Life-long Learning Institute and had taught two courses for the local program. As a couple, the Luebkes traveled extensively and had spent time in all 50 states as well as 40 foreign countries. Besides participating in several community activities, he had a passion for reading, skiing, tennis and playing with his grandchildren.
Luebke was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by is wife of 52 years, Phyllis of Stillwater; two daughters, Dr. Anne Luebke and her husband Dr. Ian Dickerson of Rochester, NY and Karen Hale and her husband, Alan of Colorado Springs, CO; grandchildren, Kathleen and Eric Hale, Claire and Emma Dickerson; sister-in-law Susie Lounsbury and her husband, John; four nieces and nephews; and several cousins.
His cremains will be interred in the Danish Lutheran Cemetery north of Lincoln near Davey, Nebraska at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Salem Lutheran Church, 101 S. Duck Stillwater OK 74074. Arrangements are under the direction of Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Stillwater.
Condolences may be sent using our online guestbook at www.pmcfh.com