Lance Carl Luepke

Lance Carl Luepke, age 50, of Baldwin, was set free from the grips of the mental illness he had been fighting on September 28, 2026, at Bone Lake, a place that meant so much to him. Lance was born on October 14, 1975, the son of Carl and Faye (Stork) Luepke in Hudson. He was raised in Hudson, graduating from Hudson High School with the Class of 1994.

Lance was a quiet, stoic man (perhaps because he grew up with three older sisters) of few words, but who would do anything for you. He was always willing to lend a hand and his expertise when you needed it. He was a creative engineer and artist, a combination that doesn't come along often. His attention to detail was appreciated by all who knew him. He thought with his hands just as much as his head. The old saying, "Measure twice, cut once," fit him to a T. Earlier in his career, he worked as a finish carpenter in new home construction. Many homes throughout the St. Croix Valley still showcase his beautifully crafted work.

Lance married Marcia Mason in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2006. Together, they made their home in rural Baldwin with their English Setters and best friends, Ben and Ellie, always by their side.

Lance was a true outdoorsman. Growing up, some of his fondest memories were of deer hunting with his dad, who affectionately called him “Buck” and relatives up in the Rice Beds in Polk County. He also enjoyed taking his dogs pheasant hunting.

Lance had a need for speed. He loved snowmobiling on his Ski-Doo, especially out west, and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles. Nothing about Lance was mundane. One of his passions was fabricating and customizing his motorcycle, eventually creating his very own custom Harley. His creation earned him a prestigious award in the Full Throttle Bike Show in Sturgis, alongside his nephew Brantley, whom he loved dearly.

He was always the type to go all in when he got a motorcycle. He needed to know everything about it. Every nut and bolt had to be dissected, whether it was a hobby or researching something. Some of Lance's fondest memories were made spending summers at their family trailer on Bone Lake. Whether bobber fishing for crappies or chasing the elusive musky, he simply loved being on the water’.

He enjoyed tooling around with his fishing boat, keeping it pristine and constantly fine-tuning his Mercury motor. Fishing trips to Canada with his dad and relatives and a Fourth of July get together on the sand bar on Bone Lake were another source of wonderful memories.

Those who knew Lance understood that his recent years were marked by struggles with mental illness that often overshadowed the man they knew and loved. His family hopes he has finally found the peace that so often eluded him in life. They choose to remember the gifted craftsman, the outdoorsman, the son who loved his dad, and the man who found such happiness on the water with a fishing rod in his hand.

Lance will be remembered by his mom, Faye; sisters, Nan (Randy) Grekoff, Jill Anderson, Carla (Mike) O'Connell; wife of thirty years Marcia; nieces and nephew, Brantley (Jamie) Grekoff, Jaenea (Chad) Doyle, Carlen (Jorge) Gil Delgado, Emma (fiancé Jeff Gegen) O'Connell, and Tess O'Connell; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Grace, Claire, Lincoln, Lennon, Matty, Joaquin, and Guillermo. He was preceded in death by his dad, Carl, whom he missed dearly.

A time to gather, share memories, and remember Lance will be held on Friday, October 2nd from 5pm to 7pm at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson. Private burial will be in the Baldwin Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be used to further suicide awareness and prevention; Center of Addiction and Faith and Prevent Suicide Wisconsin. Funeral services are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hudson. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-386-3725.