Lyle Edwin Lukas

Excerpts from memories written by Lyle Lukas

I was born about twelve miles north of St. Francis, Kansas, on November 26, 1926. My father was Philip Lukas, who migrated to this country in the early 1880’s from Nordorf, So. Russia and my mother was Magdalena (Raile) Lukas, who also migrated to this country in the early 1880’s as a little baby. I had three brothers, Harry, Ernest, and Clayton and two sisters, Lydia and Martha. I was the baby.

It was in my freshman year that I first noticed Betty Amack, the love of my life. Sometime later I saw her at a dance and asked her to dance. So we dated, went to a lot of dances, movies, roller-skating, frog leg hunting, etc.

I joined the Navy on February 2, 1944. Betty and I decided to write to each other, but if we wanted to date others we could. So it was off to Farragut, Idaho, for Boot Training for six weeks.

In June 1946 I received word that my Mom had died. Up to this time Betty and I had written a lot of letters, and I had sent her an engagement ring. I went to St. Francis for the funeral and afterwards Betty and I decided to get married. I got an extension on my leave. We got married on June 25, 1946, and we honeymooned in Denver.

On August 2, 1947, our little girl by the name of Nancy Lee made an emergency entrance into this world, less than ten minutes after I made a wild ride of about twenty miles down a four-lane highway hoping a cop would pick me up and escort me to the hospital as Betty’s water had broken, but no such luck.

Then in October 1947 I was discharged from the U.S. Navy, and we headed home to St Francis. My first job was with a farmer/rancher fifteen miles north of Yuma for about eight months.

My brother-in-law, Dave O’Brien, who was working for Service Oil Company out of Colby, Kansas, got me a job with them to run a bulk plant out of Vernon, Colorado. On March 1, 1949, our first son by the name of Rodney Charles made an entrance into this world in St Francis.

After three years in Vernon I gave up on that job and took a job in Wray with Gail Brown Construction as they were just starting a new hospital in Wray. This was in 1951. I liked carpenter work, but the second winter we didn’t have much lined up, so I missed several weeks of work.

In the spring of 1953 I got an offer from Phil Shea Furniture and Appliance which I took and it lasted 14 years. There I learned the appliance business from the ground up, and it was to be my career. On December 7, 1955, our second son by the name of John Edwin was born in Wray.

Then on January 11, 1956, the last of my three sons, Stanley Kent, was born in Wray.

After working for Phil Shea fourteen years Phil retired and the business was closed. I applied for and got a job with the Wray Post Office as a letter carrier. I did this for about three years. But it was substitute work, so it didn’t pay very well.

At the same time that Phil Shea closed out, I bought out the Theo Crouse refrigeration business, contracted the General Electric appliance line and thus in February 1966 “Lukas Refrigeration” was created. It was very good to us, and I am proud to say that son, Stan, bought out the store in 1998.

I am a member of the First United Methodist Church in Wray, Colo., a lifetime member of the Wray Elks Lodge, and was a proud member of the Color Guard of the American Legion and the VFW in Wray, Colorado, for many years.

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And now these words his family adds. Lyle Edwin Lukas escaped the bonds of his human pain and went to the embrace of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 25, 2018, at the Wray Community Hospital where his doctors, nurses and the family he loved so much were there to give him comfort.

Preceding Lyle in death were his mother and father, all his brothers and sisters, his mother and father in law, Chester & Vivian Amack, and many other close friends and family.

He is survived by his loving wife and partner of 71 years, Betty; his children, Nancy Rockwell (Dwight), Rod Lukas (Dawn), John Lukas (Marilyn), Stan Lukas (Chris); eight grandchildren, Jeff Rockwell (Amanda), Andrew Rockwell (Becky), Saylan Lukas (Coco), Lana Rust (Jimmy), Stacie Lukas (Jeff Brundage), Kelsey Oakley (Korey), Ryan Lukas (Sally), Brandon Lukas (Ashley), and fifteen great grandchildren; Jordan Rockwell (Apolonia), Torrie Rockwell (Jacob Schie), Zachary Rockwell (Rachel McPherson), Madison Rockwell, Sacora Lukas, Amanti Lukas, Raegan Rust, Gunnar Oakley, Griffin Oakley, Jackson McKenzie, Kalea Lukas, Avery Lukas, Beckham Lukas, Kyler Lutz, and Madelyn Lukas, sisters in law Phyllis Reade (Ray), Darlene Burr, Shirley Gorman (Ike), and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services were held May 1 at the First United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado, with Pastor Ben Wentworth officiating, and internment at Grandview Cemetery also in Wray. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Wray and Hospice of the Plains. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.