Mike Luce, a longtime Council Grove resident remembered for his quiet service to the community, will be honored posthumously Friday evening during the 2026 Washunga Days Powwow.
Sharon Haun, representing the Friends of Kaw Heritage, will present the Luther Pepper Award in Luce’s memory.
The award is given each year to recognize someone from the Kaw Nation or Council Grove who has contributed to the community through acts of kindness and service.
This year, it was Council Grove’s turn to select the recipient, and the Friends of Kaw Heritage chose Luce for his many years of volunteer work and community involvement.
Luce and his wife, Ann, moved to Council Grove in 1978 when he accepted a position as a speech therapist with USD 417. While he loved his work with the school district, he was also known for helping with community activities and events, often behind the scenes.
Among those efforts were Washunga Days and the After Prom Party, which Mike and Ann helped organize and carry out for 21 years. He also volunteered with Symphony in the Flint Hills for most of its 20 years, helping before and after the event wherever needed. For many of those years, Mike and Ann also helped run the golf cart brigade for the Symphony.
One of the events especially meaningful to Luce was “Voices of the Wind People,” the outdoor production that began in 2001. Luce designed and hung the lighting for the production and ran every show. He also helped put up and take down sets, build seating on the hillside and complete many of the other tasks needed to stage the production.
Those who worked with him remembered his dependability, smile and good attitude. He was also known for looking forward to visits with Luther Pepper during the week of dress rehearsals. Luce valued Pepper’s role in the production and treasured the time he was able to spend visiting with him.
Luce died of cancer in 2024. Ann Luce, along with Mike’s brother, Rick, and other family members, are expected to be present Friday evening. Family members are traveling from Indiana, Colorado, Utah and Bonaire for the occasion.
The Friends of Kaw Heritage will also present Ann with a small token in appreciation and remembrance of Mike. The piece was made by local artisans Alexander Artworks.