Dr. Chad Dalton Lusk

Dr. Chad Dalton Lusk, age 62, of La Grande, passed away January 8, 2009 in his home where he was surrounded by family. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the La Grande High School Auditorium. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

Dr. Lusk was born on November 14, 1946, the son of Hugh Dale "Gene" and Lucille (Abeene) Lusk in Cottage Grove, Oregon. As a boy, he was a member of the Boy Scouts, London Boy's Club and 4-H. After graduating from high school there he continued his education at the University of Oregon while participating in the ROTC program. In 1969 he married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn Workman in Cottage Grove and later finished his Doctorate at Pacific University in 1973. During the years before his career as an optometrist he worked as farm labor, for BLM, Weyerhaeuser and was an assistant teacher. He lived in Cottage Grove, Lincoln City, Eugene and Forest Grove before coming to La Grande. He volunteered time to La Grande's Optimist Club and the Child's Center and helped with the design of the Veteran's Memorial indoor pool.

Chad had a wealth of hobbies, including hiking, exploring, studying nature and people, restoring cars, scuba diving, traveling and motorcycle trips. He loved family activities with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed decorating his "Man-room". He built his own Shelby Cobra in his garage. Footage of Chad with his Cobra can be found on-line at www.youtube.com under "Chad Lusk and his Cobra". He loved life, maintained a positive attitude and brought out the best in others. He loved to invent things and take on big projects that would seem impossible to most people. He was well respected in the community and loved by his patients.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Lusk of La Grande; children and their spouses, Amy and Clayton Bond of Walla Walla, Washington and Matthew and Jennifer Lusk of Porterville, California; eight grandchildren; mother, Lucille Lusk; siblings, Farrys Ostendorp of Portland, Craig Lusk of Cottage Grove and Cole Lusk of Salcha, Alaska; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father "Gene" Lusk.

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