Frank John Lukay passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at the North Island Comox Hospital.
Frank was a man of faith who lived a life of service and dedication to his community. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, an Alderman, an Instructor at NAIT, a Professional Engineer and founder of Lukay Research & Development who felt his duty was to do things right for those in the community he served.
Born on March 19, 1932 to John and Mary Lukawitski and raised on the farm with his two brothers, Walter, and Casmir in Myrnam Alberta, and then moving to Edmonton for University, where he graduated with his Masters in Engineering. Frank married his first wife Louise (nee) Demco in 1955, the mother of his children, Richard, Patricia and Mary Louise. Frank’s work took him to Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and finally residing in his home in St. Albert to raise his family.
In St. Albert, Frank served as an Alderman for over 10 years. He also served on the Knights of Columbus for 60 years and even held the position of Grand Knight from 1990-91. Franks served the St. Albert Catholic Parish in many ways, which included his volunteer work with the choir PITCH and SPICE from; fund raising Bingos, to driving the choir's equipment bus to Alaska. But one of Franks legacies is designing the iconic bell tower that now houses the 3 bells that sat dormant for so long to be able to ring out in harmony over the valley as they were intended.
As a Professional Engineer, Frank was always problem solving, helping many people across the province of Alberta, from his amazing building designs to being one of the original instructors at NAIT, teaching English, Math and then Design Construction in the Architectural Department, for over 15 years.
Frank loved cycling, skiing, flying his plane, music, solving problems and being outdoors. But his greatest passion was creating a design for a structure, and he would be the first one to roll up his sleeves to do the construction work. He was still riding his recumbent bike last summer and driving his tractor last fall and driving his car until about a week before he became ill and passed.
Frank leaves behind his children Rick and friend Deborah Sydorchuk, Pat and Randy Cunningham, and their children, Bryan and his wife Sophia and great granddaughter, Hazel Cunningham, Sean and his wife Rebecca, great grandsons Asher and Tobin Cunningham, Carmen Cunningham, Mary-Lou and Garry Drachenberg and their son, Kurt Drachenberg and his fiancé Susana Mendoza Rojas.
Predeceased by his first wife and mother of his children Louise (nee) Demco in 1988, and his second wife, Virginia (nee) Fyke in 2016, his younger brother Casmir, in 2019, his older brother Walter in 2022, his father, John Lukay in 1998, and his mother Mary Lukay 2000.
A Celebration of Frank’s life will take place at the St. Albert Catholic Parish on April 26, 2024 at 11:00 AM with Internment and luncheon to follow.
