In Loving memory of Stewart O. Luckman

Father and Husband

Sculptor and Professor

STEWART O. LUCKMAN of Edgewood, Washington, passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2020, at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, WA., after complications following several surgeries. 

Stewart was the beloved husband of Marilyn V. Luckman for 60 years and the beloved father of Sean Stewart Luckman, Bainbridge Island, WA, and Nils Konrad Luckman, Edgewood, WA.

Stewart was born in Fitchburg, MA., on May 12, 1938, and spent his early years in Africa (Kenya and Ethiopia), where his parents served as missionaries and built the first Leprosarium Hospital in East Africa.  He graduated from Stonybrook Preparatory High School in New York, Bethel University, and Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Upon graduating from Bethel University, he taught high school government and coached football and track at Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington, married Marilyn Swanson in 1962.  Later both returned to Minnesota, where Stu graduated from the University of Minnesota with an MFA in Sculpture. This career move sent Stu on an entirely new journey and trajectory, with the visual arts becoming the center-piece of his life. 

He retired from Bethel University in 1998 as Professor Emeritus of Sculpture.

Over the years of service, Luckman became known as a strong man of faith with a powerful voice, mentoring young artists and sculptors, who, like Luckman, received numerous residencies, awards, and commissions themselves, and whose work can also be found in public and private collections across the United States and Europe.  Of particular note, Luckman’s public sculpture work can be seen in Finland at the ‘International Plaza;’ New York at ‘Sculpture Space’; at the University of Minnesota, ‘Rokker V’; at Bethel University in St. Paul; and at university and government building sites in Washington, Minnesota, Indiana, and Michigan.  After retiring, Luckman moved to San Juan Island in Washington, where he served as Director of the SJIMA Sculpture Park (San Juan Islands Museum of Art). Stewart also worked with his wife Marilyn to establish IMA, the Islands Museum of Art on San Juan Island.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn, two sons, their wives and children; Sean and Candace Luckman, Declan and Seamus Luckman; Nils and Julie Luckman, Shannon and Ivan Luckman; sister Evangeline and her husband Harold Alexander and their family; Derek and Stephanie Alexander and their children Vance, Brandon, and Mia Alexander; Kirk and Rosario Alexander, and Vera, Ulysses, Lola, and Maya Alexander; Kim and Ruston Nielsen, Kaden, Eva, and Estella Nielsen; brother David Luckman and his wife Sue and their family; Justin Luckman and Kendall, Liam, and Maddox; Sarah and Shaun Stoddard and Lucy, and Ayla; and Jordan Luckman.

A Memorial will be held at the Mt. View Lutheran Church in Edgewood, WA, to celebrate Stewart’s life and journey after the Pandemic guidelines permit.

Memorials may be sent to:

Bethel University Art Department 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112