Thomas "Tom" E. Luff

Thomas E. Luff, 74, of Minden, passed away on Friday, April 25, 2025, at CHI Health – Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minden with Rev. Donald Hunzeker and PMA Julie Schmidt officiating. The service will be streamed to the church’s YouTube page. Interment will be held later that day at 2:30 p.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery near Kronborg, Nebraska. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Craig Funeral Home in Minden. Memorials in Tom’s honor are kindly suggested to Bethany Lutheran Church in Minden or to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kronborg. Arrangements are under the care of Craig Funeral Home in Minden. Thomas Eugene Luff was born on September 5, 1950, the son of James L. and Bette I. (Hartford) Luff. He grew up on a farm south of the Kronborg Korner. He graduated from Marquette High School in 1968. Tom attended Midland College shortly after and then received his business degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney on August 4, 1989. Tom was united in marriage to Debra Kay Tournor on February 27, 1971, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kronborg. Tom and Deb had four children: Brian, Brad, Brent, and Brenda. Tom and Deb lived in Overton while he attended UNK and he was the Chief of the Fire Department, while Deb served as Secretary. After Tom’s graduation, they settled in Minden in 1992, where he pursued his passion for carpentry. He started his own contracting business called Quality Builders Construction. Tom was very skilled at his trade. Tom and Deb attended Bethany Lutheran Church in Minden. He enjoyed the fellowship of his church family. He also enjoyed golfing and fishing, and was probably most known for his wonderful cooking skills. Tom loved to entertain. During the summers, he and Deb hosted many gatherings. Food, family, and friends is what made him the happiest. In August of 2017, Tom was diagnosed with advanced stage Pancreatic Cancer. He was treated at the Mayo Clinic and completed experimental surgery. He was given little to no hope to live through it. Despite the odds, not only did Tom survive but he lived another 7 ½ years! Those years did not always come easy but he continued to defeat scientific explanation and amaze his doctors. He rallied back from the impossible. Tom’s strength and determination was beyond understanding. “With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). Tom was simply a miracle, you can say, “one in a million”. Tom’s battle has come to an end, but he is now with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Bette Luff; and his sister, Coral Lea Jacobsen. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Debra; children, Brian Luff (Lynn Reed), Brad Luff, Brent (Kristine) Luff, and Brenda Luff (Chad Plumb); grandchildren, Bre Ann, Brylea, Jacob, Jordan, Jason, Alicia, Amber, Sarah, Stephanie, Dominic, and Dmitry; great-grandchildren, McKenzie, Libby, and Kendrix; siblings, Mike (Michelle) Luff, Bunny (Greg) Chaney; brother-in-law, Jeff Jacobsen; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, extended relatives and close friends. Tributes and memories can be shared with the family at www.craigfunerals.com.

Thomas "Tom" E. Luff

September 5, 1950 - April 25, 2025