Lucas "Luke" Patrick Miller, 43, of West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, November 3 after a courageous battle with colon cancer. Born on October 23,1981, in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Luke lived a life defined by kindness, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to family, friends, and community.
A true "positive warrior" with an infectious energy, Luke touched the lives of everyone he met. He graduated from St. Thomas University with a degree in marketing while proudly representing the University as a dual athlete in basketball and football. He worked for a short time at Allianz Life in Minnesota before moving on to his passion for education. Luke earned his elementary education degree from Iowa State University and began his journey in teaching- a calling he embraced wholeheartedly.
As a beloved 6th-grade teacher at Westridge Elementary in West Des Moines, Luke brought enthusiasm, empathy, and love as he greeted students each morning with a warm hug. His connection with students was truly special, and he inspired countless young people with his optimism, kindness, and gift for making each person feel valued. His colleagues at Westridge quickly grew to be like family, sharing Luke’s joy for life and his deep love for the school’s community.
Luke loved being a dad and cherished every moment spent with his kids and wife. He really loved supporting Hollie’s singing and sports activities, Mia’s passion for dance, and teaching Jordan all about the sports Luke loved. Luke was a true sports enthusiast, an avid Vikings, and Cyclones fan, and loved to golf with friends and family. He loved to coach, especially basketball. He had many great friendships that dated back to his childhood, friends who admired his loyalty, humor, and kind spirit. His devotion as a husband, father, son, brother, coach, and friend will be cherished forever. Luke’s legacy of kindness and positivity will continue to inspire those fortunate enough to have known him.
Luke is survived by his loving wife, Sarah; his children, Hollie (11), Mia (9), and Jordan (4); his parents, Pam and Pat Miller of Brooklyn Park, MN; his brother Erik Miller and sister-in-law Mary (Hannah, Tyson, and Ryanne); his cousin Andrea Atherton and her husband PJ (Hudson); his in-laws, Craig and Julie Stevens of Urbandale, IA; Todd Stevens, Adam and his wife Amy Stevens (Summer, Andrew, and Blake); and Katie and her husband Curt Harms (Will and Elizabeth), along with many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Luke’s legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the laughter he shared, and the kindness he so freely gave.
A celebration of Luke’s life will be held on Saturday, November 9 at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the service at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow the services.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial contributions be made to a fund which will be used to honor Luke’s legacy at both Westridge Elementary and his non-profit organization aimed to support local families impacted by cancer, The Positive Warrior Network.
Luke’s light and legacy will forever inspire those who were blessed to know him.
Livestream of service: https://wdm.lutheranchurchofhope.org/specialevents/
