Putnam Mourns Luke Rathschmidt, Inspiration For United For The Troops

MAHOPAC, NY — As family and friends mourn the death of Luke Joseph Rathschmidt, 38, suddenly in North Carolina, the community is donating to a GoFundMe page set up for the benefit of his children.

He is survived by his partner Tracy Hascup, and their children, Jaelynn and Brandt; his father, James Rathschmidt and his wife Patty (“Ma”); his mother, René Skelly; siblings Teresa Reuter (and her husband, Brian), Timothy, and James, as well as Denise (and her husband, Dan), Kathleen (and her husband, Bobby), Tracy (and her husband, Mike), and Michael (and his wife, Jen), as well as his nieces and nephews; and his extended family including Tracy's siblings, Pamela (and her husband, Mike), Joshua (and his wife, Jordan) and Elijah.

In addition to loving and serving his family and country, he also served his local community.

Called "the driving force" behind the creation of United for the Troops in his obituary, Rathschmidt was a proud veteran of the US Army, 82nd Airborne Division. In 2007, he told his father that not everyone else deployed in Iraq got care packages from home. So Jim and Patty Rathschmidt stood in front of stores in Putnam County asking for donations, got enough money to send 200 packages, and created a local charity that involves hundreds of volunteers and sends thousands of gifts and notes to U.S. service men and women abroad. SEE: Homegrown Charity Packs Compassion Into Every Box

Visitation is Friday, May 24th from 2-8 PM at Joseph J. Smith Funeral Home (692 US-6, Mahopac, NY 10541). A Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 25th at 10AM, led by his beloved Uncle, Fr. Jack Rathschmidt. Interment with military honors will follow at Ballard Barrett Cemetery in Mahopac Falls.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to a GoFundMe set up in his honor.