Lucas Donahue

COLRAIN, MA - Lucas Emmett Donahue (Luke, Duker, Louis), 41, died on Thursday, December 1.
Luke was born on April 28, 1981, and has lived in Colrain since the age of 3, first on land on Wilson Hill Road, which was part of his great-grandfather’s farm. In 2008 he moved to Ed Clark Road to the home he built with the help of family for himself and his wife Lindsay (Herzig) Donahue, where together they have raised their two children Hunter and Teagan.
Following graduation from Mohawk Trail Regional High School in Buckland in 1999, Luke began his work life as a carpenter. In 2004 he joined Bemis Line Construction of Jacksonville, VT, and performed line construction throughout New England and beyond - most times far from his family until week’s end. In 2014 he became a lineman at Green Mountain Power in Wilmington, VT, so he could be home with his family each night, be close as Hunter and Teagan entered school, attend their ball games and activities, and to share more fully in the delights of growing children.
He lived full and hard and was “all in” in everything he did. He provided a wonderful home and comfortable life and taught the responsibility and rewards of hard work and dedication. He lived a life of fun and gathered into himself those he loved. He loved hunting, boating, and sports, and loved sharing those passions with his family and friends. He enjoyed watching Hunter find pleasure and fulfillment in school and travel sports and cherished the closeness a father and daughter enjoy.
Luke was a passionate outdoorsman where he spent endless hours enjoying a hike in the woods, hunting, and out-distancing many with his sixth sense for honing in on shed deer antlers. His latest project was the purchase of acreage in Colrain where he began restoring the hayfields and stone walls.
Luke had a full heart and a ready smile, and lifted up everyone around him. All along the way he had a knack for making people smile. His smile and laugh were infectious and he made everyone feel he was focused totally on them.
Luke’s family will all miss him so much, especially Lindsay, his wife of 18 years, and their children Hunter and Teagan. Luke also left behind his father and mother Peter and Vicki Donahue, of Colrain; his brother Jake Donahue, of Colrain; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was also survived by his father- and mother-in-law Mike and Debbie Herzig, of Whitingham, VT; his sisters-in-law and spouses Caitlin and Dave Corliss, of Ashfield, Shannon Herzig and her fiancee Jason Kingsbury, of Erving, Jillian and Trapper Wimmelman of Wilmington, VT; and his nieces McKinley, Leighton, Kendall, and Karsyn, who all felt the strength of his love each time he saw them.
The family would like to honor him with a celebration of life at the Sweetheart Restaurant in Shelburne Falls, where they’ll raise a glass or three to the best man they knew and reminiscence with the memories that they all hold dear. Please join the family Saturday, December 10, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, with a brief memorial speech at 2 pm.