Thomas Hannan Luckey III

Thomas Hannan Luckey III, 83, of Munising, Michigan, died on December 20, 2022, in Belém, Brazil, after a 7-year battle with stage 4 prostate cancer. He and his wife, Marion, were midway through a long-awaited cruise down the Amazon River when he fell ill and was transferred to Hospital Beneficente Portuguesa, where he passed two weeks later.

He is survived by his wife, Marion; daughter, Shannon (Karl) Luckey-Mueller of Sheboygan WI; son, Thomas Luckey IV of Munising; sisters Jalayne (Bill) Kee of Quakertown PA, and Suzanne (Paul) Tregembo of Sterling Heights MI; grandsons Daniel McQuade of Sheboygan and Thomas Luckey V of Munising; step-granddaughters Courtney, Monica and Natalie Steinhoff, and their mother, Melissa Luckey of Munising; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Tom was born on July 7, 1939, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Thomas H. Luckey, Jr., and Justine Luckey. He spent his school years in Niles, Michigan, where he played football and wrestled before graduating from Niles High School in 1957. He attended Manchester College in Indiana, where he earned his B.S. degree in 1961, after which he returned to Niles, where he met his wife of 58 years, Marion.

In 1962, Tom began his education career in Lower Michigan, first as a seventh-grade teacher and coach in Coloma, then as principal of Howard Community Schools near Niles, where he would later become acting superintendent. In 1970, Tom became the high school principal in Lake City.

In 1967, Tom and Marion both earned their M.A. degrees from Northern Michigan University.

The Luckey family moved to Munising in 1972 for Tom’s new job with Munising Public Schools. He started as the Assistant to the Superintendent for Transportation and Athletics and would later serve as the middle school principal, high school assistant principal, and director of community schools, while continually working as athletic director.

In 22 years, Tom attended virtually every Mustangs home game and countless away games for all boys’ and girls’ sports, often stepping in to coach, referee, take stats, sell tickets and supervise the facilities. He was a man who could see what needed doing and did it without fanfare or need for credit. He continued as a substitute teacher and administrator at MPS for another 12 years after retiring.

Aside from mentoring three generations of young people at MPS, Tom offered GED testing to prisoners at Camp Cusino and Alger Max. He was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and an ordained deacon since 1990.  He was active in the Rotary Club for over 25 years and was an enthusiastic member of the Monday Night Bridge Club.

Tom belonged to the Upper Peninsula Community School Directors Assn., U.P. Athletic Directors Assn., and other organizations too numerous to list. During 1989 he participated in the Kellogg Youth Development Seminars. He also served on the board of directors of Munising Memorial Hospital, Superior Health Foundation, the Michigan High School Athletic Assn., the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula, and the Alger Regional Community Foundation, where he was a founding member.

In his younger years, Tom was known mix it up in pick-up basketball games in the pit at Mather High School, often surprising his peers with his unyielding tenacity and an agility unexpected for a man of his size. He continued his love of sports in retirement by refereeing girls’ volleyball games, running the pro shop at the Pictured Rocks Golf and Country Club, and participating in the men’s golf league. He traveled to several national golf events, volunteering on the Laser Team for the AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach, California. Just prior to his death, he was still going to Anytime Fitness several times weekly to ride the exercise bike and lift weights.

Tom and Marion tent-camped at national parks and theme parks all over the United States while their children were in school. In retirement, they visited over 25 countries around the world, setting foot on every continent except Antarctica. Tom loved people and made friends wherever he went, ever ready to strike up a conversation or join in a game of bridge.

Tom lived out loud, from his unmistakable, thunderous laugh to his unvarnished opinions, to his love of sports and travel. He lived life to the fullest, serving God and others while pursuing his passions—right to the end. Visitation will be on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Eden Lutheran Church from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  Rev. Virginia Mannisto will conducte Mr. Luckey's service at noon.  Donations are requeted to be made to the Alger Regional Community Foundation in lieu of flowers.