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Trish Falkiner Kelly lit a candle
Sunday, October 1, 2023
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Don was my first cousin but there were many years between us so my memories of him are few. In reading through all the beautiful tributes I have a much better picture of Don as husband, father, grandfather, son, sibling and friend. May your memories carry you through your loss.
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Sandra Musey lit a candle
Friday, November 18, 2022
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Condolences to the Family and Friends of Don Lucas. Unfortunately I never met or knew Don but he was my Mom's first cousin. RIP Don
M
Mickey & Dianne Maguire posted a condolence
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Dear Merle (Murtle), Kim, Mark, Cory & Jenny Baby
Mickey & I are so very sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He will be missed by all who knew him.
We have so many memories of Luc and of course Merle, who was always by his side. I’m sure she shook her head many many times over some of the antics that took place.
The best memories were of our many camping trips to Kimball Lake. Playing poker dice till the early morning hours. Badminton in the dark and the many arguments with whoever happened to be the referee. And, all the hours spent fishing.
Our thoughts are with you all, and sending big hugs.
J
Jodi Ray posted a condolence
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Don was my manager at SaskTel Mobility and he was and will always be my best and favorite manager! I remember when I interviewed for the position he told me "If you have a problem with swearing, this isn't the job for you."! I laughed and told him that wouldn't be a problem since I had a bit of swearing issue too! From then on, Don and I got along great and I have such fond memories of our time working together. When he retired, it was a very sad day and I missed him dearly. My sincere condolences to Don's family, may your memories of him give you comfort and keep him close in your heart.
G
Grant Stevenson posted a condolence
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Pre-covid, I bumped into Don and Merle at Home Depot in the plant section. We had an amazing talk and it was truly heart lifting to catch up with them again. We probably talked for 15 minutes. It was awesome.
During some of my formative years, our families used to camp alongside each other at Murray point. I'll never forget Don's passion for fishing - and his expertise at it! I remember him rigging up this outdoor camping shower! ( I thought that there was no way this thing would ever work). But it did! It was solar powered. May the fish be biting and the water be calm in heaven sir! Long may you run. To Merle and family- May the peace of the Holy Trinity comfort you in this difficult time - amen
E
Ethel Stevenson posted a condolence
Thursday, April 7, 2022
I was sad to hear of Don's passing. Arnie and I have been long time friends of Don and Merle's through Sasktel. All of the camping and socializing stories will always be treasured. Rest in peace Don! To Merle and family - you are in my thoughts and prayers.
J
Jen Lucas posted a condolence
Thursday, April 7, 2022
I went looking for a very specific picture I remember of me and my Dad. It was Easter and I was wearing a blue dress and Dad and I were on the old green couch in the living room up against that horrible wood paneled wall Dad. was not in a lot of pictures as he was always the one taking forever to take the picture. I could not find it but I am thinking of it as I write this.
Every one has had such kind things to say about Dad and they are all true. Uncle Bob, in particular, wrote a lovely tribute. So I won't talk about all the things everyone has mentioned, I will write about how much fun he could be. Back in the day, he loved his Lemon Hart and Coke and loved to play pranks. I did not always enjoy them at the time, but I look back and laugh and they are some of the most consistent stories I tell to describe my Dad to people.
I remember being 7 or 8 and Dad and Keith Maguire setting up an Easter egg treasure hunt with clues that took Darcey and I all through the neighborhood and ended with chocolates hidden in the old camper.
I remember Dad setting up the mini golf course for the kids when we would stay in the private campground at Kimball Lake.
I remember a particularly active year for bears at Kimball Lake when we would wake up and see bear tracks in the camp site in the morning. But mostly I remember being 7 - 9 years old and Darcey and I being given flashlights and being sent down the road to use the outhouse before bed. And then I remember running screaming back to the camper because Dad and Keith had followed us, hid in the bushes and made growling noises as they scratched on the walls.
I remember how much he said he did not want a dog and Chancey was just a dumb animal but he would always save the last of his Revel ice cream bar and let Chancey lick it off the stick.
I remember he and I in the basement watching thrillers and horror movies and he would wait and watch until I was very focused and very tense and then yell "boo" to scare the crap out of me and then kill himself laughing. One night he even went so far as to go outside and hide when I was in the bathroom. He then rang the front door bell. As I was at the front door looking to see what as going on, he ran around to the back, came in quietly and grabbed me from behind.
I remember in high school when Mom and Dad had gone to an Octoberfest party at the Nutana rink. I was woken up at one in the morning to my dog barking and banging on the back door. Dad decided it was funny that he was driving Chancey crazy as she knew he was outside and not coming in. I quickly went back to bed. Only to have my Dad come in minutes later, turn on the light, sit on the side of the bed and say "Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story? Have you heard the one about the three bears?"
I remember Dad starting to tell me a story about a strip club he had gone to, starting with "She shot a ping pong ball out of her..." only to have Mom interrupt and yell at him, "Don, she is your daughter not your son".
I remember him on a business trip and out for drinks with a bunch of guys and they stopped at a bar because they liked the music. They did not realize it was a gay bar until one of them got hit on. I think Dad was disappointed it was not him as he was always telling me how the bank teller, store clerk, etc. was flirting with him. They did not leave. They went back the next night and sat with their arms around each other's chairs so they could drink, listen to music and not be bothered.
I remember one summer I worked in a warehouse at SaskTel where I was the only female and the installers would come and get parts for their jobs. Most of these guys had worked for Dad at some point. There was a lot of colourful language and stories. Then inevitably a guy would realize there was a young girl and apologize for the language. Only to have some else say, "Don't worry, she's Lucas's kid". As if to imply there was probably nothing I had not seen or heard.
I remember taking Dad to a baseball game in Vancouver. We had seats in the outfield. I left Dad watching the bull pen to go get us drinks. I got back and Dad had met a guy who gave us his extra tickets behind the dugout.
The most important things however I take away from my Dad are the importance of helping friends and family when you can, common sense and intellectual curiosity. University was not for Dad, he spent more time in the pool hall, which is how he got his first job at SaskTel, than in class. But he soaked up knowledge through the news, TV and talking to people. He instilled in me this curiosity and his work ethic and that is why I am successful today.
My Dad was far from perfect, but he was the best.
M
Michelle Galvin posted a condolence
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
A trip to Saskatoon meant seeing Don, Merle and their children. I have very few childhood memories, and most of those I do have are bleak, but I vividly recall the sanctuary that was 63 Phillips Crescent. The tree, the basement, Merle’s voice, and Don teasing us - or telling us to stop making such a racket. I remember him always being in the background, making sure we were okay, and not endangering ourselves or the house. And I remember the obvious love between him and Merle, often disguised as brusqueness. As an adult, I realized his wit was sharper than his tongue, though he suffered no fools (or opposing opinions) and I learned a lot from him. Kim, Mark, Cory and Jennifer - you were lucky to have such a father, and to have grown up surrounded by so much love. Don was so proud of you- of who you are and what you’ve accomplished - and even more proud of his “brood” of grandchildren. Keep memories of him in your heart and mind, and Don will live forever. Blessed be.
B
Bob Lucas posted a condolence
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
It is a daunting task to try and capture a life in a few words. First and foremost was the role of the family at Don’s core. His family of origin, Merle, his children and grandchildren were everything to him and his life in many ways reflected that. I experienced this centrality of family as a teenager. Don had come home to visit and learned that I had been behaving badly towards Jim. He took me aside and gave me a proper dressing down, as only an older brother can, while teaching me the importance of loyalty to family. He took his role as father to his own family seriously and continuously demonstrated by his unselfishness how to live life well in this regard. He taught his children well and I thought he was well served by this teaching as I watched Mark and Cory take greater responsibility for their parents’ wellbeing over the past five years Don’s grandchildren gave him immense pleasure, in part because he was not responsible for molding their character as with his own children, although he was not reticent to offer his advice to them.
Don was the Lucas family’s McGyver, there was no problem of an electrical, mechanical or plumbing nature that he could not diagnose and fix. I marvel that as a young man, he would set out each week on the Hanson Lake Road in minus 40 degrees, dodging logging trucks in the ice and snow to maintain the communication sites of SaskTel. When he encountered a problem, whether in the diesel engine or switching equipment, he had to fix it as he was the only game in town. When I moved back to Saskatoon and bought my first house, I had him on speed dial. He would respond immediately and fix whatever problem I had. The only cost to me was that sometime during each visit I would hear, “I can’t believe you do not know this.” That Rob is the proud owner of a 45 year-old Starcraft boat is testimony to the maintenance that Don provided over the course of our 30 year joint ownership, although Mark probably deserves some credit as well. When Don and Merle moved to St. Volodymyr Villas, he immediately became the darling of all the widows in the complex for his willingness to serve as the resident handyman.
One gift Frank gave his three sons was a deep and abiding love for the Saskatchewan landscape and the hunting and fishing activities that it provided. Some of my fondest memories of my two brothers were days hunting ducks around Wakaw and geese in the Western flyway. This gift was passed onto Mark and we managed to keep the embers burning in the offseason with reloading sessions around the Ponsness loading machine in Don’s basement.
Don was an extrovert and took great pleasure in talking up strangers, one reason, I think, that he enjoyed RVing so much. It was a passion he pursued with his family and friends throughout his life. He loved to retell stories about people he met on his travels throughout North America. I witnessed this first-hand when we took a salmon fishing trip to Nootka Island off Vancouver Island with Rob and Liz’s brother Dave about four years ago. We would go out, two to a boat with guide, for 5 hours at a time. At the end of five hours Don would know more about the guide’s life than I would about my colleagues of 20 years. People seemed to understand that he was genuinely interested in them and they would open up to him immediately.
I would be remiss not to mention Don’s enthusiasm for sharing his strongly held opinions on politics, sports and life in general with family and friends. He and Merle would hold frequent family dinners that featured wonderful food and two to three hours of animated conversations with all in attendance taking part. When Liz first experienced one of these events, she quietly remarked later that my extended family surely liked to argue. Somewhat surprised I responded, “Doesn’t everyone?”
Over the past few years and particularly during Covid, Don’s life began to contract due to his physical limitations and this wore on him. He and Merle had a pact that she would be the first to go since she relied on him so heavily. Without this commitment, I think he would have been ready to embark on whatever new journey awaited him. About two weeks ago Liz and I visited Don and Merle in their new digs at the base of the 25th Street bridge. As I gazed out on the South Saskatchewan River, I asked him how he was enjoying the new apartment. His pithy answer was, “it is like a feedlot.” “Why would you say that,” I asked. “Because they feed you three meals a day and you wait to die.” It’s hard to argue with that logic. Although we grieve Don’s passing there is some solace in knowing that his life as he wanted to live it was ending. So let us shed our tears mindful of a life well lived.
M
Mark uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
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The first picture is Don with three of his kids sitting on his mothers back patio during a family gathering. The second is Don with Merle, Don's Dad and three of his children. Don's fourth child had yet to make an appearance. Don was at his fathers and mothers cabin at Wakaw lake where fishing was awesome.
M
Mark uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
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Don loved fishing and especially loved fishing in the Northern Saskatchewan Lakes. He really wanted to share that experience with his grandchildren that showed an interest in fishing and wanted experience fishing trips.
Don, had the opportunity to fish at Otter Lake for I think 3 years with some grandchildren. The following images are the first trip where Don hired a guide for the first trip. On subsequently trips Don acted as the guide as he loved to learn the lake via maps and his knowledge of where the fish should be.
One the first day I was in a separate boat with the guide with one of his grandchildren while Don was in the yellow boat with tow of his other grandchildren. On the first day Don arranged for a shore lunch that the guide provided on a random island in Otter Lake.
M
Mark uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
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As Don got older and technology improved he spent a long time trying to convert old 35mm photo slides and negatives into digital images. This was a bit of a technological challenge as he needed to find/use different types of scanning technology depending on the age of the negative. He even had negatives going back before 35 mm slides and I think they were printed /stored as reverse negatives. Of course scanners and computers were really slow which resulted in Don spending hundreds of hours on the activity. However, he continued through all the computer crashes and very slow scanning as he wanted to preserve those images for his kids.
I am not quite sure whose kid's Don was reading too.
R
Rick lucas posted a condolence
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
To Merle, Cory, Kim, Jennifer, Mark and Lise. Don’s passing is a sad, sad day for me. Don always looked so much like my dad, and vice versa. I have many, many fond memories - great memories of him. He was always a jokester like grandpa Frank. He was ever helpful- he really welcomed me in Saskatoon when I moved in with grandma. He taught me how to install a shower in the basement. He had a great smile, a huge heart. At times he was a man of few words, but deep deep thoughts… unless it was about politics… then you’d hear all about it. Prayers and hugs to all of you. I know how much I miss my dad, I can only imagine you’re in a similar spot. Love Rick
M
Mark uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
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In 2009, Don and Merle's 50th anniversary was celebrated at Turtle Lake Saskatchewan. It turned into a mini family reunion as people travel from BC and Ont. to attend at my sisters Cabin. A number of Don and Merle's friends also drove out to the lake to surprise my parents.
It was a wonderful weekend. Everyone looks so young. My niece Kristie was awesome and built and shared a hard copy picture book that contains many of the pictures. The picture includes Don and Merles extended family and grandchildren.
I will miss my father forever.
I also felt so lucky that Don and Merle were able to spend time with my children and especially happy that my dad was able to share his love of fishing and fishing trips with his grandchildren.
Love Mark.
l
The family of Donald George Lucas uploaded a photo
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
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The family of Donald George Lucas uploaded a photo
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
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