Lukavsky, Urban V. "Luke" 1928-2015

LUKAVSKY, HALLIGAN, NYDEGGER, WISE, SCHWANEBECK, MOW, WILSON, MEADE, DODDS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/1/2015 at 16:35:14

Urban V. “Luke” Lukavsky, 87, of Newton, died Monday morning, Sept. 28, 2015, at his home in Newton.

Visitation for Luke will begin at noon Friday, Oct. 2 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church of Knoxville. A rosary service will be at 1 p.m. Friday with much of Luke’s family present. Many of Luke’s family will also be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening at the church.

A funeral service will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, with the Rev. Jacob Griener officiating. Following services internment will be at Our Lady of Good Council Cemetery in Mooreland.

Luke was born June 11, 1928, in Marshalltown. Luke attended and graduated from Fort Dodge High School, Class of 1945.

On Aug. 2, 1948, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fort Dodge, Urban and Mary Adeline Halligan were united in marriage. They shared 67 years of marriage and were blessed with 13 children.

Luke worked hard all his life. By the age of 17 he owned two telephone companies and invented part of the transistor known as the collector. In 1952, he purchased the Agnew Monument Company. Luke owned and operated it for 53 years, helping his last family in 2005. Luke also was one of the last two individuals in the United States to hand chisel granite monuments.

Luke was a bright and talented man. He loved to hunt, target shoot and dance with his wife. He also was a sculptor, painter and a devoted Catholic, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Luke is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Lukavsky; two sons, Dr. Timothy (Catalina) Lukavsky and Dr. James (Angela) Lukavsky; seven daughters, Joan Lukavsky, Mary Jane Nydegger, Terese (Brad) Wiese, Patricia (Cris) Schwanebeck, Julie Mow, Paula (Steve) Wilson, Caroline (Russell) Meade; 32 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren. Luke is also survived by his brother, Leon Lukavsky.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Christopher and Thomas Lukavsky; two daughters, Nancy Dodds and Kathleen Lukavsky; and his sister, Yvonne Lukavsky.

A memorial in Luke’s memory has been established to the Options Pregnancy Clinic and may be directed to the family. Condolences may be sent to www.winfieldfh.com. The Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville, is assisting Luke’s family with services. ~ The Newton Daily News, Newton, Iowa 1 Oct 2015,