Luke Staengl makes his journey onward

By Kathryn Ashera Rose

On Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at the age of 77, Luke Staengl passed away after a long journey with cancer. He was surrounded by loving friends and family as he took his last breath. A dynamic winter solstice service was held the following day, attended by over 100 close friends and family. Songs, poetry, prayers, live music, and incredible love helped Luke with his journey onward. Luke is now buried in an orchard, facing the rising sun, overlooking the Little River valley, on the land he loved and lived on for more than 48 years.

Luke was a utopian visionary dreamer, with a technical mind and a German work ethic. This powerful combination allowed him to create some amazing things in his lifetime. He dedicated his career to helping humanity and the environment: building community scale fuel ethanol into reality in the '80s and '90s. He then transitioned to recycling industrial waste and used motor oil. On an interpersonal level, Luke offered deep compassion to all he interacted with. Luke spread a strong message of love to all he met and encouraged everyone to look for and heal the sources of pain inside of ourselves rather than to project our pain onto others and the world outside of ourselves.

Luke was born on May 17, 1948, into a German pacifist Christian community (the Bruderhof) in Paraguay to his parents, Joseph and Rosemary Ivy Staengl. He was the oldest boy of six brothers and sisters: Amanda, Letitia, Selma, Joseph, Joel, and Rafeal. He grew up playing in the jungle, learning to work hard, share everything, and participate in the enthusiastic choral singing of the community. Luke and his family spent time in England and immigrated to the United States when he was a teenager. As a young man Luke was drafted to go to war in Vietnam yet successfully petitioned his claim as a conscientious objector. He pointed out to the draft board that half of his brothers and sisters were German citizens, and half were English citizens. He asked them if Germany were to declare war again on England, would they expect him to fight his brothers and sisters? He told them that he believed all men and women were his brothers and sisters, and therefore he could not in good conscience fight against them.

While working as a conscientious objector in a hospital near Albany, New York, Luke was trained as a respiratory therapist. He also visited many of the iconic east coast festivals of the 1960s, including Woodstock. He then journeyed to San Francisco, also experiencing the heyday of awakening happening there at the time. This is where he met his first wife, Anita. Luke and Anita traveled across the country together looking for community and a place to settle down. They eventually settled in Floyd County with their two sons, Galen and Aaron. Many years later, after Anita moved to Florida and they parted ways, Luke’s passion for building a community became central, and he created Anahata – a 35-acre nature sanctuary and small intentional community. He was joined in this endeavor by wife Laurelsong Cooke from 2006 until her passing in 2011. Luke then married Kathryn Ashera Rose in 2013, and they dedicated themselves to further developing the Anahata community, for which the motto is, "Living from the heart, to create a more beautiful world."

Along the way, Luke made many connections and helped many people. He took on leadership wherever he was. He was a founding member and long-time supporter of Blue Mountain School in Floyd; a council member of Sustain Floyd; a lobbyer at the state and national level for environmentally-sustainable policies; a speaker/presenter at conferences and universities; and his business, Pragmatic Environmental Solutions Company (PESCO), still thrives as an innovative creator of industrial scale recycling solutions. At one point, he built two ethanol factories in Floyd and employed over 100 people, while also involving local farmers. His company also conducted extensive research into all the possible uses of tree lignans, which led to Virginia Tech starting its Bio-Based Materials program. Many of Luke’s ideas were ahead of their time with an aim toward sustainability and wellbeing. Hopefully the seeds that Luke planted in his many endeavors will continue to take root and find expression.

In October 2025, Luke was infused with the love of community at a "Living Celebration of Life" wherein 80+ friends and family came to appreciate, reminisce, and celebrate his life – all with him present, soaking it in – he did not want to miss the party! The last weeks and months of his life were witness to a steady stream of folks coming to spend quality time with him and return some of the love that he put out into the world. Embracing a loving and even joyous death was the intention. Luke fulfilled that intention, and it was shared generously with all who chose to witness and partake.

There will be one more celebration – on what would have been Luke’s 78th birthday – Sunday, May 17, from noon until 5 p.m. at Anahata. If it’s nice, we will begin outdoors at Luke’s resting place with live music, songs, readings, and remembrances – and planting flowers. Then journey inside for a potluck reception and more music-making. All are welcome.

Luke is survived by his son Galen and Galen’s wife Joanna, and their sons Ezra and Theo; Luke’s son Aaron, Aaron’s wife Rashmi, and their children Gallia and Micah Bodhi; his wife Kathryn Ashera Rose and her daughters Kiara, Marisa, and Anael, and Anael’s children Conner and Ruby Mae. He is survived by many beloved friends, the nature that surrounded and loved him, colleagues in business who continue to dedicate themselves to environmental sustainability, and many others whose lives he touched.

If anyone wants to pay tribute to Luke in some way, he might recommend four things:

• give someone your unconditional love and presence - and do them a kindness
• cultivate a deep and respectful relationship with nature
• celebrate life with joy, music, and dance
• go deep within to learn, heal, and grow

Luke will be missed and remembered by many who lovingly send their blessings on his spirit’s onward journey.