Nobel “Lu” Lugo

Nobel “Lu” Lugo, 75, of Indianapolis, IN passed peacefully on January 27, 2025, at Grand Brook Memory Care of Fishers. He was born December 12, 1949, to Rosaly and Carmen Lugo in Guayanilla, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Born into a military family, he became a career Army officer. During his childhood he lived in Puerto Rico, Panama, Louisville, Ft Knox, Ft Hood and Radcliff KY. He graduated from North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY and earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1987 from Indiana University. He met the love of his life, Jeanine Arend Lugo, at Ft Knox, KY where they were both stationed and married in 1978.

Nobel served in the US Army for 34 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2005. He served 9 years enlisted and achieved the rank of SSG, initially as an Armor Crewmember, where he served on the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, and then as a Finance NCO at Ft Carson, CO, Ansbach Germany, and Ft Knox, KY. He was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Field Artillery where he proudly served with the 1/10th Field Artillery in Schweinfurt, Germany, and then transferred into Finance as Commander of the 3rd ID Finance Company in Wurzburg. He served in a variety of Finance and Personnel jobs throughout his career, including instructor in the Battalion S1 course; Chief of Military Pay 5th Finance Group, Frankfurt Germany; training officer on the JSS military pay system; Brigade S3 at Ft Harrison Troop Brigade; 3ID Budget Officer and Division Reflagging Officer in Wurzburg, Germany; Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary Financial Operations in the Pentagon; and Action Officer in Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Highly respected for his expertise in pay and personnel, his advice was widely sought throughout the Army community. He returned to active duty in 2008 to work on a project to merge Pay and Personnel. His numerous awards include the Legion of Merit and several Meritorious Service Medals.

Although his first passion was the Army, his second passion was anything related to trains and military history. He loved to accumulate model trains, especially Monon trains. He became the president of the Central Indiana Chapter of the Train Collectors Association, where he enjoyed coordinating monthly luncheons and field trips for his “train guys.” He loved setting up his Christmas displays for the grandkids and friends and was working on a larger train display when he became affected by Alzheimer’s.

He is survived by his wife Jeanne Lugo, Indianapolis; son Robert Lugo (Leslie) McCordsville, IN; daughter Melissa Ervin (Bryan) Milton, IN; sisters Mary Conner (Jim), Louisville, KY; Carmen Branham, Falls Church, VA; brothers Rosaly Lugo (Maria), Augusta, GA; Mike Lugo (Patty) Radcliff, KY; grandsons Joseph Lookabaugh (Miranda), Austin Lugo (Emily), Jacob, Jarrin and Jacen Ervin; granddaughters Olivia and Carmen Lugo; great grandsons Carson, Casey, Caeden and Cashton Lookabaugh, Henry Lugo, and numerous nieces and nephews.

His visitation will be Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm at Crown Hill Gothic Chapel, 700 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm.

The family thanks Grand Brook Memory Care of Fishers and Anchor of Hope Hospice for their loving care and support throughout his journey. Donations may be made in his honor to the Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or online at ALZ.org.