Obituary of John Thomas Lucas

(August 4, 1927- January 2, 2018) - With sorrow tempered by beautiful memories we announce the passing of a dear father, grandfather and great grandfather, John Lucas on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at ARCH. John is predeceased by his beloved wife Mary in 2000 and would have celebrated seventy years of marriage this year. He was the last surviving son of the late Vernon Lucas and Eva (O'Connor). Predeceased by his brothers and sisters, Cornelius, Dorothy Yadivisiak (late Ted), Lester, Monica Cloukey (late Leonard) and Andrew (late Margaret). John was devastated by the passing of his brother and chum Andy six weeks ago and we are delighted that these two mischief makers are together again. John and Mary were inseparable, and they built a legacy of family togetherness at their log camp on Horseshoe Bay. Over the years our parents opened their hearts and camp life to friends, nieces and nephews and a fair share of hitchhikers. We are grateful to our camp family, the Courtneys, Soulieres, Durands, Hyrskys, Turcos and bay friends for their support and love over the years. Loving John forever are his children; late Christopher; Monte (Peggy Trainor); Mary Ann Greco (Gerry); Kevin (Christina); John (Jane); Anita Ratelle (Dale); Vernon (Bobbi-Jo Holmes) and Aaron. Fun loving grandfather of twenty-two and great grandfather of fourteen. Favourite Uncle Jack to many nieces and nephews. He will be fondly remembered by Sam Butkovich, Twyla Ryan, Cindy and Donna Lucas, and friends Joanna and Hank Harju, Pat and Giovanni Blasi, Bob and Mary Krmpotich and Alice Hyrsky. John was a lover of learning. He obtained his degree while driving cab at night with six children and a pregnant Mary. He enjoyed a successful work career with the Federal government and later the City of Sault Ste. Marie. John's insistence on the importance of education produced a legacy of engineers, nurses, teachers, musicians and lawyers. Thank you, dad! After retiring, he loved to cruise Lake Superior with Mary in the “John T”. They explored nameless islands, eating and sleeping on isolated beaches. Dad became introspective after mom died spending time writing on his computer, starting a family book club and honouring our veterans. A proud WWII veteran himself, he felt compelled to honour his lost brother Lester by naming a remote lake “Lucas Lake” his memory.  Dad was a story teller and a jokester, but most of all, he loved writing: poetry, love songs to our mother, and stories about his memories of us...his children. We would like to thank the Bayshore and Care Partner nurses. Special thanks to ARCH and Dad's angel Lorie Rose R.N. (his "Rose"). A private family funeral was held as per Dad's wishes. Donations to ARCH or the Group Health Centre Trust Fund, of which John was a founding member, would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to Northwood Funeral Home Cremation and Reception Centre (942 Great Northern Rd, 705-945-7758).

The Memory Keeper
 

It's dawn at Horseshoe

And a flag hangs at half mast

The bay is in mourning

For one of its early loves

Sixty years of memories

Fiery sunsets, comrade campfires

Barefoot days and music filled nights

Thank you Dad for bringing us here

We heard about honour, respect and pride

From a veteran's broken love

For a long lost brother

And a sad lonely lake

Poetry and pictures

On a memory wall of love

Oh Mom...seventeen years alone

He was loving and missing you

We need another word for sad...

Something deeper, yet lighter, freer

Because our sad, sad vigil began

For this man, the captain of our hearts

His brave heart still beating

Our heartbreaking whispers

"Go....go....we will always love you"

And then free.....so sweet, so dear

Our loving Dad, our memory keeper

“Ex Animo”