Luke Loyd, 87, of Cedar Rapids, passed away on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Dennis and Dona Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Viitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2026, at Brosh Chapel and the Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW.  Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Hiawatha.  Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Luke was born July 27, 1938, in Winston Salem, North Carolina, the son of Kramer and Ruth (Santo) Loyd. In his youth he moved to his Uncle Fritz's farm in Falls City, Nebraska where he helped with the crops and cattle.  He graduated from Sacred Heart High School, class of 1956.  Luke then joined the Navy and served as a Machinist's Mate 3rd Class in the engine room on the USS Hector.  He was honorably discharged in 1962 after 3 more years of service in the Naval Reserves.  After the service he attended The Milwaukee School of Engineering earning an Associate's degree, then worked in the Milwaukee area servicing refrigeration equipment.  With encouragement of a good friend, he moved to Iowa to work in the testing department at Amana Refrigeration where he met his wife, Leona.  They were united in marriage on December 6, 1969, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  Luke took a job as an estimator at Galbraith Plumbing and Heating and made the transition to the newly formed B.G. Brecke Inc, where he worked for over 30 years.  Luke finished his career retiring from Bowker Mechanical in 2010.  Luke was proud of his work and greatly enjoyed the many relationships he formed over his career, many of whom he kept in contact with until his passing.  Those friendships and experiences meant a lot to him.

Luke was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association, Knights of Columbus and a 67-year member of the Elks Club.  He enjoyed bowling, golfing, hunting and fishing and spent much time cheering on the Fighting Irish Notre Dame Football team as well as his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.  He was an avid reader of history and enjoyed traveling to historic places.  He frequently found himself on a "drive about" enjoying God's creation and often ending up at Pleasant Creek Reservoir enjoying the sun sets.  Luke had a deep faith often postponing phone calls that interrupted his afternoon prayer.  He has passed his quiet reverence, firm faith and convictions on to his children and grandchildren.

Luke is survived by his children, Laura (Andy Rogers), Loyd Rogers, and Mike (Katia) Loyd; five grandchildren Clayton, Selah, Reagan, Caleb and Michael; one great-grand child Ava; his sisters Susan Erwin and Rita Brennan, his nieces and nephews Marty, Mark, Alex, Tracy, Nicholas and Luke.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Leona and his brother Fritz.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.