elevated XByzJ John Paul Lukas (November 6, 1928 – August 21, 2020)
elevated XByzJ On August 21, 2020 retired civil servant John Lukas, left us due to complications after cancer surgery. Predeceased by his beloved wife of 58 years, Mynagh (nee Byrne) in 2013, he was cremated and will join her at Assumption Cemetery, Mississauga. John desired no elaborate service so there will be private interment ceremony on November 6, 2020
elevated XByzJ John escaped from Czechoslovakia, with his cousin John Skublics in 1949. This was an amazing feat, involving bribery, smugglers, sneaking across dangerous borders at night avoiding searchlights and guards with machine guns; the kind of stuff one sees in movies about that era and can hardly believe. He lived it. John was a very intelligent and knowledgeable person, kept himself well informed on current events, and spoke at least 4 languages (Slovak, Hungarian, German, English). His cognitive abilities remained completely intact right to the end; at 91, his memory and attention to detail, and organizational skills were amazing
elevated XByzJ After a year in Austria with a small group of refugees, John was able to get to Canada to start a new life.
elevated XByzJ He once said, “I arrived here with $5 in my pocket in a huge Halifax snow storm after being seasick for 10 days and all I could think was ‘What have I done?!’ ” John made it to Toronto in 1950. He started out in the furniture business, had a few other business ventures, but ended up working for the government until 1988.
elevated XByzJ John met his beloved Mynagh in Canada and they were married in 1955. She truly adored him and cared for him until her final days. They had no children, but Mynagh had 3 sisters. So they had several nieces and nephews who also dearly loved their “Uncle John” and they will miss him very much.
elevated XByzJ To John’s European friends and family, he was always “Jancsi” or “Uncle Jancsi”. Jancsi is Slovak for “little Johnny”. Jancsi was always loved by all his cousins and their children, especially for the way he could tell stories about his life, and current problems he may have been having – there was always some drama, big and small, in his life; or at least he told the stories dramatically.
elevated XByzJ Jancsi was an avid golfer, along with his refugee cousins and friends. When his best friend Jerry Hornak (they spoke on the phone every day for 40 years) passed away a few years ago, Jancsi basically gave up golf. He was always a homebody, one might even say a bit of a recluse. In retirement, he spent most of his time at home playing the stock market.
elevated XByzJ Fortunately John’s battle with cancer was relatively short and he did not have to endure much suffering.
elevated XByzJ John/Jancsi will truly be missed by all those that are left, both young and old, who are friends and family.
elevated XByzJ Goodbye Uncle Jancsi and všetko najlepšie and maj sa dobre with the family in heaven. We love you!
elevated XByzJ