Robert J. Luiken

Robert James Luiken, age 94, of Lake Crystal, died Monday, July 17, 2017, at Oak Terrace Assisted Living in North Mankato.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 21, 2017, at Grace Baptist Church, Mankato.  Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday at Lake Crystal Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at the church on Friday.  Interment will be in Lake Crystal Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Grace Baptist Mission Fund or Liberty Baptist Mission Fund (Fremont, NE).

Robert was born September 21, 1922, in Mankato to Nick and Susan (Garrett) Luiken.  He attended grade school at the South Lincoln Country School.  They lived just across the road from the school.  He attended Lake Crystal High School. He was united in marriage to Kathleen E. Goodburn on March 5, 1944, at the Lincoln Baptist Church, rural Lake Crystal. They celebrated 72 years of marriage. To this union three sons were born, Steven, Everett, and Roger. 

Robert lived in Blue Earth County his entire life except for one year when he lived near Truman.  He attended the Nashville Baptist Church where he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Saviour and was baptized a year later. 

Robert farmed, worked at the Land O’ Lakes milk plant in Lake Crystal and drove the Land O’ Lakes milk delivery truck. He was Janitor Foreman at Mankato State University from 1966 until his retirement in 1988.  Robert did custodial work along with his family at the First Presbyterian Church, Lake Crystal Bank, Lake Crystal Post Office, and Lake Crystal Baptist Church. They attended during their married lives Medo Baptist Church, Lake Crystal Baptist Church where he was a deacon and Sunday School Superintendent, First Baptist Church, New Ulm, and Grace Baptist Church, Mankato.

Robert was a kind and loving husband, father, and grandfather always thinking of others and putting them above his own desires and needs.  He was a number one employee going beyond in all that he did.  He will be greatly missed.

Robert is survived by three sons, Steve Luiken of Mankato, Everett (Elayne) Luiken of Nevis, MN, and Pastor Roger (Wanda) Luiken of Fremont, NE; nine grandchildren, Shannon (Ron) Wolke, Michelle Luiken Shelton, Ryan (Amber) Luiken, Stacey (Aaron) Will, Amy (Nathan) Myhra, David (Kim) Luiken, Debby (Matt) Repaskey, Daniel (Brittany) Luiken, and Emilea (Joel) Litchfield; twenty two great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Kathleen on June 12, 2016; daughter-in-law, Gloria Luiken; eight sisters, Hazel Zable, Hazel Appel, Irene Luiken, Ethel Miller, Margaret Hackel, Darlene Heiser, Mattie Olson, and Myra Hoeft; four brothers, Ken Radatz, Lyle Luiken, Richard Luiken, and infant Everett Luiken.