Douglas Earl Luepke

Douglas Earl Luepke, 79, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 3, 2026. Born on January 18, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois, Douglas was the beloved son of the late Howard Reinhardt Luepke and Josephine Micek Luepke. He was raised in Rochester, New York, in a home rooted in faith and service, values that guided him throughout his entire life. A man of deep faith, he was a devoted, longtime member of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church.

Doug’s lifelong love for nature began early. It led him to attend Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondack Mountains, where he graduated with a degree in Forestry. Ready to serve his country, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. It was there that Janis Iodice left New York to join him, and the two were married in 1971, beginning a beautiful life together that spanned 55 years.

Following their move to the Atlanta area in 1975, Doug built a distinguished career as a Photogrammetrist and the Regional GPS Coordinator for the USDA Forest Service Southern Region. As a pioneer in satellite mapping, his technical evaluations helped shape modern forestry engineering protocols across 13 states. His expertise also took him internationally to Indonesia, the Philippines, Venezuela, and Italy, where he trained global colleagues in this emerging technology. Doug's unique skills were called upon during a moment of profound public need in 2002, when he provided critical satellite and forensic mapping assistance to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) during a major recovery operation in North Georgia, ultimately bringing closure to hundreds of families.

While his career was filled with milestone achievements, his greatest joy was his family. Together with Janis, he raised two sons, Reid and Todd. Doug was a deeply present father who never missed a chance to support his boys, enthusiastically coaching their youth soccer and baseball teams for many years.

In his well-deserved retirement, Doug was an avid golfer who could most often be found on the fairways. He was also an accomplished hunter and sportsman. Widely known as the ultimate handyman, Doug possessed an analytical mind and patient hands; he could truly fix absolutely anything around the home. He even single handedly built an addition to the family home, a testament to his skill and devotion to his family. He will be remembered as a brilliant mind, a patient coach, and a fiercely devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

Doug is survived by his loving wife, Janis Luepke of Sandy Springs; his sons, Reid (Lindsey) Luepke and Todd (Katie) Luepke, all of Atlanta; and his four cherished grandchildren, Isabella, Wyatt, Caroline, and Whitaker Luepke. He is also survived by his beloved siblings, Arlene DiVincenzo, Caroline Keller, and Ronald Luepke, all of Spencerport, New York, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, former colleagues, and close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Josephine Luepke.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 14, 2026, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, Sandy Springs, GA. Following the Mass, a private burial for family will take place at Arlington Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Douglas’ name to St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, Sandy Springs, GA.