Jerome E Luecke

His preferred way to go was from injuries sustained in an avalanche while skiing in the Swiss Alps. Unfortunately, complications from diabetes were the final culprit.

He was predeceased by his parents Rudolf and Marie, his brother Tom, and his daughter Claudia. He is survived by his wife Helen, children Nicole (Chris Selley) and Matthew (Heather Luecke), three grandchildren Kate, Alex, and Tom, sister Yvonne and five nieces and nephews.

Jerry worked for Exxon for 37 years and retired as General Counsel for Exxon Research and Engineering. A career highlight was working in Manhattan in the Litigation Section of the Headquarters Law Department where he once settled a trademark dispute with payment of a chicken fried steak and a box of letterhead. He served as president of the Association of Corporate Patent Counsel and Chair of The Association of the Bar of the City of New York Committee on Patents among other organizations.

He was born in Washington Missouri, a quiet, pleasant, conservative place where the editor of the local newspaper once suggested that a wall be built around the town to keep the young people home and new ideas out. Education became a path to a different future, and he embraced lifelong learning. He was an attorney, philosopher, and cook. In his retirement he vowed to “do as little as possible” which couldn’t have been less true. He retired to Singer Island and Lincolnville, Maine before settling in Palm Beach Gardens. He enjoyed sailing, tennis, and cooking. While in retirement, he discovered a talent for croquet, even becoming nationally ranked for some time. In recent years he could be found in his office every day at 4 PM playing chess with his grandson Alex. The daily game was a true joy for both.

He loved to travel and crisscrossed the globe enjoying the local food and wine along the way. As a lifelong Catholic, completing The Camino de Santiago in his early 60s was a personal triumph.

Jerry’s insight, generous spirit, and his hearty laugh will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Catholic Charities, www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 13591 Prosperity Farms Rd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL on Thursday June 16, 2022 at 11 AM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howard-quattlebaum.com for the Luecke family.