Heaven just got a little goofier.

Our beloved Rodney “Rod” Martin Luedke, better known as Pops or Hot Rod, has traded his favorite cocktail and cigar for angel wings and made his grand entrance into Heaven on August 18, 2025 – no doubt cracking jokes the whole way up. We are confident he made his grand entrance into Heaven with a perfectly timed joke and that famous mischievous smile.

Born on January 12, 1948, in Lynwood, California, Rod grew up with a bat in his hand, a love for baseball in his heart, and the burnt orange spirit of the University of Texas running through his veins. His parents moved to Austin, Texas, when he was a young boy and later attended Reagen High School where he excelled at sports. He went on to attend the University of Texas School of Architecture where his eye for design and detail took root. He began his career drafting and building beautiful residential homes, leaving behind a trail of craftsmanship that families would enjoy for generations. From there, Rod became a trusted construction superintendent and later reinvented himself as a Landman, traveling the highways and backroads of Texas with his sharp mind and quick wit.

Rod also proudly served his country as a paratrooper with the U.S. National Guard at Camp Mabry, an experience that only added to his adventurous streak. Whether jumping out of planes, skiing across the lake, or traveling the world with a glass of wine in hand, Rod was always ready for the next thrill.

While his career and adventures were impressive, his greatest joy was family, which he loved fiercely. Rod fell in love with his first wife, the mother of his children, Kathleen (Foster) Luedke as a student at U.T. and together they had three beloved children over the years. Rod was a proud father to Matt Luedke, Lisa (Luedke) Galloway and her husband Ian, and Kristen (Luedke) Otero and her husband J.C. Otero. He was an adoring “Papa Rod” to his grandchildren — Gigi and Jackson Galloway, Alaina Luedke, and Charleigh Otero, who brought endless joy and laughter into his life. He is also survived by his two sisters, Jolynn Young and Lori Mannella, as well as countless cousins, nieces, and nephews who all knew that a gathering wasn’t complete until Rod arrived with his witty sense of humor and a grand story!

Rod wore his heart on his sleeve, laughed loudly, and lived fully. Whether cheering for his Longhorns, hitting balls on the golf course with his buddies while yelling “FORE” almost every time, eating a delicious steak while saying “mm mmm mmmmmm” every bite, cracking a perfectly timed pun, or sharing a story that had us rolling with laughter, he taught us all that joy is a choice — and he chose it every single day.

Though our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing Rod has reunited with his parents, Vincent (“Lucky”) Luedke and Marjorie (“Marj”) Luedke, and his lifelong bestie (aka partner-in-crime), Jack. We imagine him in a place as beautiful as he always sought out — sipping a cabernet sauvignon, jesting around, and making Heaven a little louder, goofier and a lot more fun.

Thank you, Pops, for filling our lives with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Your legacy will live on in every smile, every sunset toast, and every story that makes us laugh until we cry. Cheers to a life well-lived and a love that never leaves us!

A Celebration of Life for Rod will take place on Saturday, 9/27, 2025, 12:00pm-2:00pm, at Campus on Lake Austin (see Events Tab for details)

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