Juanita T. (Crowley) Luken

Juanita “Edie” Theresa Luken, of Terre Haute, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at her home. She was 93.

Juanita was born October 3, 1926 to William T. Crowley and Anna Kuss Crowley. She was the tenth of eleven children. As a devout Catholic, she attended grade school at St. Joseph Academy and graduated from Central Catholic High. At the time of her death, she was the oldest living baptized member of St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church in Terre Haute.

On June 26, 1944 Juanita married her childhood sweetheart and WWII veteran, Albert Luken.   Together they had six children and celebrated 61 wedding anniversaries before his death in 2005. Though she worked most her life and was part of many clubs and organizations, her greatest role was that of the Luken family matriarch. The Luken household was a gathering place for holidays and events, big and small. On any given day, a number of family members could be found sharing stories around the kitchen table, playing in the yard, or cheering on the Chicago Cubs.

Survivors include her six children Theresa McCullough, Sheryl (Don) Smith, Albert “Butch” (Reba) Luken, Rita Cottrell, Greg (Jayne) Luken, and Karen Shafer; 34 grandchildren Brian Ophoff and Rebecca Ophoff, Lori (Todd) Royer, Amy (Aaron) Frink, Lisa (Chris) Abrell, Kristi (Joey) Cantillo, Roy “RD” (Marissa) Smith, Sara (Eckert) Lyew, Kari Smith, Melissa Luken, Trey (Candi) Luken, John (Debbie) Pilkin, Amanda (Dan) Robinson, Anna (Joshua) Schidler, Ethan (Tori) Luken, Casey Critchlow, Erin Luken, Jeremiah Luken, Danielle (Ben) Rilenge, Eian Luken, Michelle Cottrell, Carl (LeAnn) Cottrell, Yvonne (Matthew) Spittler, Clint (Brittany) Cottrell, Nanette (Brian) Sheldon, Antionette (Andrew) Orman, Craig (Natalie) Cottrell, Greg (Ashley) Luken, Adam (Taylor) Luken, Evan Luken, Jason (Breanna) Shafer, Emily (Chad) Roscoe, Megan Shafer, and Elizabeth (Steven) Padgett; special daughter Terry Pace Luken; nephew Garold Luken Sr; 91 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

Juanita was preceded in death by husband Albert; brother-in-law Herman “Buddy” Luken; sons-in-law Carl Cottrell and Earl Shafer; grandson Zachary Critchlow; and her ten siblings Mary Dragon, Albert Crowley Sr, Gertrude Dragon, James Crowley, Martha Boyke, George Crowley Sr, Rose Schaffer, Dorothy LeBrun, William Crowley Jr, and John Crowley Sr.

A viewing will be held at DeBaun Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 28 from 4-8 p.m. A funeral mass will take place Wednesday, January 29 at St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Afterwards Juanita will be laid to rest next to her sweetheart Albert at Calvary Cemetery.

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