Luke Linnett Obituary – Luke Linnett, an 8-year-old kid from Iowa, died after part of a statue collapsed on him at the Arizona Biltmore resort in Phoenix.
Just before 9 a.m. on November 27, Phoenix firefighters and police officers arrived to the motel on 24th Street and Camelback Road after receiving reports of an injured child.
According to Phoenix Fire Capt. Todd Keller, part of a concrete monument fell on the boy, leaving him in severe condition. Linnett died one day later, on Thanksgiving.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the 8-year-old died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head. The monument, sometimes known as a “sprite,” was one of 19 sculpted by Frank Lloyd Wright for the resort complex.
It’s still unclear why and how the sprite fell. Linnett leaves his mother, Lauren; his siblings, Grace and Jack; his dog, Pippa; and his grandparents, aunts, and uncles. His father, Jonathan, died in February 2022.
Lauren and Jonathan Linnett welcomed Luke William Linnett, 8, into the world on January 29, 2016. He died on Thursday, November 28, 2024, surrounded by the affection of his family.
Though his life was brief, his influence was immense, leaving an emptiness in our hearts that will never be filled. Luke was a shining light in the lives of all who knew him, with an infectious grin and a gentle attitude. He loved his family dearly and was friendly to everyone he encountered.
Luke attended Walnut Hills Elementary School in Waukee, where his teachers characterized him as a lively third-grader with a large heart and an even bigger sense of humor. His upbeat attitude and welcoming demeanor won him many friends who enjoyed his jokes and laid-back lifestyle.
He succeeded in arithmetic but thrived at recess, where he organized football games every day and tried to ensure that the teams were balanced and that everyone had an equal opportunity to shine with fantastic plays.
He was a promising athlete who played football, basketball, and baseball. His coaches had to take him off the court or field because he refused to leave. Luke was a “team-first” player who recognized others’ skills and encouraged them both on and off the field.
He wasn’t afraid to brag about his fantastic shots or tease his coaches about how poor theirs were. When Luke wasn’t at practice or a game, he could be found in his yard, shooting baskets or beginning a pickup game with his neighbors, whom he considered family.
Luke’s broad taste in music prompted him to start writing his own tunes. He was also a diehard Houston Texans fan, insisting on watching a game whenever the television was turned on. Luke is survived by his mother, Lauren Linnett (Brett Shelman); his siblings, Grace and Jack; his dog, Pippa; his grandparents, Meredith LeMaster, Robert Colburn, and Edith Linnett; as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was surrounded by innumerable pals who adored him.
His father, Jonathan Linnett, as well as his grandfathers, Steven LeMaster and Daniel Linnett, died before him. A memorial ceremony will be held Friday, December 6, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of Hope-Waukee (305 NE Dartmoor Drive, Waukee, IA 50263). Instead of flowers, memorials can be made to the Luke Linnett Memorial Fund, which supports youth sports scholarships in the Des Moines metro region. The Memorial Fund is administered by Midwest Heritage Bank, and checks can be sent there.