Lugene Anthony Sas

A celebration of life for all will be on Saturday, September 5th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM, at the Odell Brewing Co in Fort Collins, CO.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, September 5th at the Laporte Presbyterian Church for immediate family and congregation members in Laporte, CO, with the Reverend Dr. Judy Cuthbertson officiating. All others are encouraged to watch the live stream at: bit.ly/LugeneSas

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Lugene’s memory to make a donation to Larimer County 4H https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/81850/donations/new or Laporte Presbyterian Church mailed to 3820 County Road 54G, PO Box 387, LaPorte, Colorado 80535. A gift in his memory is a meaningful way to continue the spirit of generosity, community, and care for others that was such an important part of Lugene’s life.

Lugene was born to Anthony and Genevieve Sas in June of 1953 in Leota, MN. He attended Leota Christian Grade School and Southwest Christian High School. After that, he attended Calvin College in Michigan for two years until he enrolled in the Peace Corps. In the Peace Corps, he lived in Colombia, South America, helping the locals vaccinate and care for their cattle. He returned to the US in 1976 after visiting many areas of South America.

On September 2, 1977, Lugene married Karen Netjes at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church. Together, they began their life in a small home in Leota, Minnesota, where Lugene worked at Country Lumber. In the spring of 1979, Lugene and Karen made the decision to move west to Colorado, settling in the Loveland area. Lugene worked for Lanting Construction until the construction industry slowed in 1982, when he turned to the work that would become such a defining part of his life: dairy farming.

When the economy turned stagnant and construction halted in 1982, he worked at TeVelde Dairy near Loveland and later at several other local dairies as a milker, feeder, and herdsman. In 1989, Lugene and Karen started their own small dairy on rented land just outside Laporte. Five years later, he and Karen purchased their own dairy farm on Taft Hill Road.

It was during these years that Lugene and Karen raised their three children: Joshua, born in 1982; Kristen, born in 1984; and Lauren, born in 1988. Their family life was intertwined with the farm, the animals, the land, and the people who became part of their lives through Lugene’s work.

In early 2001, Lugene made the difficult decision to give up his milking herd. Dairy cow prices were robust, and the local dairy co-ops were making it difficult for small dairies to succeed. He began looking for a new way to build something of his own. After brief periods working with CSU Veterinary Hospital and VanderWal Dairy Sales, Lugene found an idea that brought together his love of farming and his love of people: fresh milk directly to local families through Taft Hill Dairy Milk Shares. Lugene was happy to find a role that allowed him to know each customer and their families personally and provide them with fresh milk. He loved working with all the local teenagers while they cared for the cows and bottled the milk.

During those years, Lugene also began a relationship with Odell Brewing Co. by hauling their spent grain to use as feed for his cattle. What started as a practical partnership grew into something much more meaningful. In 2018, Lugene closed the milk-share program and focused his work on trucking for Odell. The people at Odell welcomed Lugene as part of their family, and he treasured that connection. He loved arriving at the brewery, getting the grain, and—perhaps just as importantly—stopping to talk with everyone along the way. The friendships he made there meant a great deal to him.

Lugene had a gift for making friends wherever he went. His work was never simply about a job; it was about the people he met along the way. That was true at the dairies, in church, on the farm, through the milk-share program, at Odell, and in the many other places his life took him.

Every morning he went for coffee with his friends, first to Vern's Place and then in later years to the Ever Open Cafe. Those daily conversations and familiar faces were an important part of his routine. He loved to visit with his friends each day. They were special to him!

At the time of his death, he was busy raising beef cow-calf pairs, planting trees, growing grass, fighting weeds, and taking care of the land. He was always outside—fixing another electric fence, checking on the animals, occasional travel with his family, fishing, more fishing, or simply riding around in his truck and enjoying the beauty of nature. He was happiest when he was working with his hands, caring for something, or enjoying the land around him.

Most importantly, Lugene had a strong relationship with his Lord. It was front and center to all who knew him.

The family knows he is finally with his God in heaven.

Lugene will be deeply missed by his wife, Karen; his children and grandchildren; his siblings; and the countless friends, neighbors, customers, coworkers, and young people whose lives he touched.

Lugene is survived by his wife, Karen. His son Joshua and his children Madilynn and Blake. Daughter Kristen and son-in-law Brandon Locke and their children Molly and Abby. Daughter Lauren and son-in-law Seth Wolschlager and their son Henry Lugene.

Sisters Charlotte Vanden Berg, Reneta Stegehuis and her husband Terry, Ruby Lankford and her husband David. His brother Delton Sas and his wife Kathy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Genevieve Sas; his nephew Richard Vanden Berg Jr., brother-in-law Richard Vanden Berg, his sister Leravene Sas, and sister-in-law Bonnie Netjes.

We thank God for our time with him!