Joseph Lukes died Saturday, March 29, 2008 at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo,
IA from pneumonia and complications after hip surgery. He was 89 years of age.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, with burial in the church cemetery, both in Protivin. Rev. David M. Beckman will officiate. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the Conway Funeral Home in Protivin on Wednesday. Casket bearers will place pall, lector will be Sharon Lukes, gifts will be carried by the great grandchildren, servers will be Mark and Tom Reicks, song leader and soloist will be Lacy Shileny and casket bearers will be: Curt Lukes, Tom Lukes, Gerry Lukes, Chris Cogdall, Jenni Sandifar and Mary Shileny.
Joseph Godlove Lukes was born on July 26, 1918 in Utica Township, Chickasaw County, Iowa, south west of Protivin, the son of Godlove G. and Cecelia T. (Novak) Lukes. He was baptized and confirmed in his faith at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, where he remained a member his entire life. Joe received his education in the rural school near his home and following his education, he returned to the farm which besides his wife remained the love of his life.
Joe entered the US Army on August 22, 1942 and received his training in the operation of high technical anti-aircraft automatic rapid fire weapons. He was stationed in Bakersfield, CA. Joe was discharged on April 23, 1944 and returned to Protivin to live and work.
On June 20, 1944, Joseph G. Lukes was united in marriage to his sweetheart, Eleanora Zahasky, who had been his neighbor, in the Holy Trinity Church at Protivin, Iowa by the Rev. Wenceslaus Hradecky. They started their married life on Joe’s uncle’s farm in Howard County, where they lived for the next twenty years and raised their two children. Then Joe and Nora purchased the farm in Chickasaw County, where they had lived until they entered the Western Home Assisted Living Facility in Cedar Falls, Iowa in 2005, to be closer to family.
Joe loved to fish, bowl, and visit with neighbors and friends and above all, he loved his family, his parents, and his siblings.
Joe was a lifetime member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council # 2744, and the American Legion Post # 605. He served on the County Extension board and on the executive board for the Catholic Workmen Society for 20 years and as a Treasurer and agent on the local branch level for 40 years. Joe was also a Eucharist Minister of his church for 25 years.
Surviving Joe are his wife: Nora of Cedar Falls, IA; one daughter: Judy (Jean) Cogdall of Sterling, IL; one son: Steve (Sharon) Lukes of Waterloo, IA; four grandchildren: Curt (Jennifer) Lukes, Tom Lukes, Christopher Cogdall, and Jenni (Steve) Sandifar; four great grandchildren: Aliyah Jo and Lexie Lukes; Luke and Roman Sandifar; brother Bob of Mason City, IA; sisters-in-law: Helen and Anne Lukes, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Godlove and Cecelia Lukes; one sister: Helen Pechota, and three brothers: Daniel, Arthur and Wilmer Lukes.