Carroll County farmer killed in accident will be remembered for his faith and passion

BOWERSTON, Ohio – More than 350 people crowded into the calving barn that Luke Logan proudly built with his brother on the family farm in Carroll County.

It was a warm and sunny morning, but it was cool and cozy inside the new barn on July 27 as family, friends and neighbors gathered to share memories and tell their favorite stories about Luke. Together, they wiped away tears and prayed together as they remembered the sixth-generation farmer who, according to those who knew him, had such strong faith, such great influence and such devoted energy.

Luke Logan, 44, died in a farm accident on July 23. He was run over by a wagon loaded with oats. His brother Paul found him and performed CPR, but it was too late. The coroner pronounced Luke dead at the scene.

The deputy arriving at the scene of the accident believed that the car had begun to roll down a hill and that Luke had most likely attempted to turn the hitch, lost his footing and ended up under the car.

At the memorial service, the farmers’ colleagues formed a long line of about 50 tractors as a solemn sign of solidarity with this popular young man who was taken away in the prime of his life.

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Diane Miller, a family friend, watched the scene with a mixture of deep respect for the farming profession and the realization that Luke would never come back.

She said she had coped relatively well with his death, but the long parade of arriving tractors had caused her to break down. “Then I just lost it. Then it really hit me,” she said, shedding pent-up tears. “It made it all real to me.”

Neighbors Bob and Pat Hobson have been married for 55 years. They have been through a lot together, but the news of Luke’s death did not make it any easier for them.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Bob said. “I just couldn’t imagine how it could be true,” he said, shaking his head. His wife nodded in agreement and said that when she heard about it, she “felt sick.” Bob said he understood such a thing, because three of his brothers had lost children over the years.

“It shouldn’t be like this. It shouldn’t happen like this. Children shouldn’t precede their parents in death,” he said. But then his eyes soften and with the kind of understanding that comes with the wisdom of age, he adds, “But the Lord knows exactly what He is doing.”

Bob said Luke was a Sunday school teacher at the Perrysville church he attended all his life, and because the young man was a believer, it gave him a lot of hope. “This family,” he added, “they are very good people.”

Memory

Luke S. Logan was born May 17, 1980, the middle child of Susan E. Wohlwend Logan and the late Dallas Henry Logan. (The “S” was given to him as a separate initial on the day of his birth – his mother said he had no middle name.) A 1998 graduate of Carrollton High School, he always took farming and faith seriously. As a youth, he vigorously participated in 4-H, showing hogs and Black Angus cattle.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Akron and then continued that education to earn a master’s degree and become certified as an intervention specialist. He used his expertise to teach special education at Claymont High School for the past 20 years.

The Claymont City School District said in a statement that Luke will be remembered for his “sense of humor and generosity.”

“He had a personal connection with the students, especially those who shared his passions for farming, hunting and baseball. He will be greatly missed by the students and staff,” the district said.

Luke was a registered lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the Carroll County Farm Bureau. He enjoyed hunting raccoons, rabbits, and coyotes and trapping groundhogs.

Friends and family spoke of Luke’s lifelong loyalty not only to his country, but also to the Cleveland Indians and the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was an avid baseball pitcher in high school and even coached the team after graduating.

And Luke was apparently relatively brand loyal and always praised the advantages of International Harvester tractors over the “junk” of all other manufacturers.

Just over two years ago, his father, Dallas Henry Logan, passed away after a period of declining health. Since then, Luke had been very caring for his mother, checking in with her daily to make sure she was OK.

His mother Susan said that “he will be greatly missed.” In her grief, she still focused on the incredible support and the fact that she feels so much stronger because of the condolences and love people have given to the family.

His brother Paul said he had thought about what it might be like to hold a meal together one day, but he “never dreamed it would be a result of my brother’s death.” He said while he struggles to understand the events of the past few days, he still believes that “in the days and weeks ahead, we will see the things that God has been working on in the background.”

A former high school student who was taught by Luke shared her admiration for her teacher. “He never gave up on a student,” she said. “When I was going through really hard times, he was there to help me. He always had a smile on his face.”

In addition to his mother and brother, Luke leaves behind Paul’s wife Laura, his sister Rachel Hays and her husband Bryan, and several nieces and nephews. At the memorial service, it was stated that Luke will also be greatly missed by his three hunting dogs (beagles Barney, Rebel and Mickey), who were very dear to him.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Perry Township School Memorial Scholarship at the Carroll County Foundation, PO Box 375, Carrollton, Ohio 44615.