
Luanne Charlotte Reske Coats died Friday, January 31, 2025 at LMH Health in Lawrence, Kansas, following an illness. She was born September 28, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan. Luanne was the youngest of 3 daughters born to Dr. Alven and Dorothy Avis Reske. She grew up in Dearborn, Michigan and graduated from Edsel Ford High School in 1969. Luanne then enlisted in the United States Navy and served a 4 year tour of duty at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago, Illinois as a Mass Communications Specialist. While stationed at Great Lakes, Luanne met and married Jim Coats. They divorced in 1986.
Luanne had a 30 year career as a letter carrier in Leavenworth and Lawrence, Kansas, retiring in 2015. She was an avid reader and especially interested in History. The Civil War and World War II were favorite subjects; her father had served in WW II as an Army doctor in the Pacific, and her grandfather had fought in the Union Army, Maine Volunteers. She traced her family roots back to the Mayflower, kept up with national news, and attended many lectures at the Dole Center. She was a proud veteran, and a patriot.
Luanne enjoyed tea, cats, cooking (cheesecake and scones her specialties), and she loved movies – especially British films featuring women in hats having serious conversations about the servants. British Regency era heroes (Horatio Hornblower, Ross Poldark) were favored, although she did make an exception for Gil Favor of Rawhide. Luanne loved to travel, and visited most of the United States to see battlefields, historical sites, homes of national heroes and to enjoy the homes of dear friends. She preferred to travel alone and prided herself on always using maps, never a GPS. In 2015 she fulfilled a childhood dream and spent 3 weeks exploring England solo, seeing homes and castles and gardens she had read about and dreamt of visiting some day. Again, no GPS – and using the “wrong side” of the car and road! She was intrepid, as well.
Luanne’s friends were her special treasure. She held them very close. She was steadfast in her friendships. She loved her church, her church family, her pastor, and was a faithful member of a neighborhood prayer group for over 30 years. Above all, Luanne loved God and the Bible. She was faithful.
Luanne is survived by her beloved son, Tyler (Sandra Miska) of Los Angeles, California; sisters Lianda (Hank) Danforth of Oregon City, Oregon, and Carlys (Mike) Loftis of Vancouver, Washington, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and nephews.
There will be a graveside service for family and close friends Friday, February 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Washington Creek Cemetery, 607 E 550 Road in Douglas County. A Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, Kansas at a later date.
So sorry to hear of LuAnne’s passing, I always enjoyed hearing of her adventures. She will be missed. RIP 🙏
Luanne was an unfailingly positive, intelligent person, rock solid in her faith and patriotism. It was a pleasure to know her and work with her for 30 years. She will be greatly missed.
It was my pleasure to not only be Luanne’s co-worker for close to 20 years , but also to be her letter carrier for 14 years. I always enjoyed our conversations and the times I could be of service to her, even if it was something as simple as taking her trash can to or from the curb on Friday mornings, or putting her Lawrence Journal World on the porch. You will be very missed, Lu.