A family honors beloved son and brother
At the ribbon cutting for Luka Henderson’s bench at Daniels Gate Park, left to right, Katie (mom) with sisters Tyla and Summer.
Over Memorial Day weekend, the Henderson family dedicated a bench at Daniels Gate Park in honor and memory of their son and brother Luka Ashton Henderson. Luka (22) passed away in 2022 in a motorcycle accident in Alabama.
“We really are devastated and miss him every single day,” said Luka’s mom, Katie. “We’ve learned that grief is the measure of love with nowhere to go.”
Natives of New Zealand, the Hendersons lived in the Forest Park neighborhood for more than a decade. Parents Kim and Katie have returned to live in New Zealand and sisters Tyla and Summer remain in Colorado.
Luka and his sisters attended Rock Canyon High School. Luka loved to snowboard, all water sports, his cars and motorcycles.
After high school, Luka joined the United States Air Force as a staff sergeant. He was deployed to the Middle East in 2019 and worked as a transportation specialist.
After his deployment, Luka traveled around Europe before beginning college at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. After graduation with a degree in Intelligence and National Security Studies, Luka was hired by the FBI and relocated to Huntsville, Alabama. He was recognized as their number one analyst working with field agents.
“We were honored by the FBI with the incredible Challenge Coin which has been inset into the plaque we had made for the bench,” added Katie.
Family and friends gathered to do a ribbon cutting at the bench and remember Luka’s vibrant life.
“Luka was a very popular young man with his peers and all ages from young to the elderly,” said Katie. “He was very funny and made us all laugh often – belly laughs!”
The Hendersons extend special thanks to David Anderson, Manager of Parks and Open Space for the Castle Pines North Metro District and Michael Penny, City Manager for the City of Castle Pines, who worked to make the location available for Luka’s bench.
“We’d like to think this will become a place of remembrance, of reflection and enjoyment for everyone,” concluded Katie. “It is our gift to this incredible community that we got to call home for 11 years.”
Luka’s bench is located at 8900 Griggs Road.
In memory of Luka Henderson, the FBI gave the family a Challenge Coin (pictured right) which has been inset into the plaque which is displayed on Luka’s bench.
Luka Henderson with his family after his deployment to the Middle East. Left to right Kim, Summer, Luka, Tyla and Katie.
By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of Katie Henderson
