“The only pain she ever caused was when she left us.”
Margaret Ann Cahanin Lukas, 97 years old, died on September 20, 2024. She was born on November 23, 1926 in North Little Rock, AR where she lived the majority of her life. She graduated from Mount Saint Mary Academy. She was married in 1949 and widowed in 1974. She was a vital asset to the Vocational Rehabilitation Service at the “Fort Roots” VA; an active member of the Catholic Church; and a Bridge “Life Master”. She moved to Shawnee, KS in her seventies, in order to help raise the “lights of her life”, her grandchildren, Matt and Meghen. In addition, she established new ties with the church, including being a Eucharistic Minister, and she joined various bridge clubs.
Margaret lived a meaningful and joyful life. She embodied kindness and generosity and “never met a stranger”. She loved making people laugh, and her family and friends will always remember her jokes and laughter. They will also recall her beautiful voice when she sang. She never shied away from visiting the sick and dying and cared for her mother, husband, brother, father-in-law, and son-in-law during their final months. She taught her family those caring lessons, along with having fun through simple pleasures, as in playing cards, bingo, & board games and solving crossword & jigsaw puzzles. She enjoyed spectator sports, such as watching horse-races (live and on tv), tennis (“Yay, Nadal!”), and college basketball and football (“Go, Razorbacks, Wildcats, and Jayhawks!”). But she was especially excited about any activities her children or grandkids participated in, ranging from young-aged singing, dancing, roller-skating, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and tennis. Later, she enjoyed political campaigning for daughter, Cynthia, helping her to become a Scottsdale City Councilwoman. She was absolutely the family's biggest fan!
She was predeceased by her father, Joseph Cahanin; her mother, Helen Deimer Cahanin; her husband, Norbert “Bert” Lukas; her sister Phyllis McGowen; her brother, Joseph “Buddy” Cahanin; and her son-in-law, John Riddle. She is survived by her youngest daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Lukas; her eldest daughter, Judith “Judy” Lukas Arnold; her son-in-law, William “Bill” Arnold; her grandson, Matthew “Matt” Arnold; her granddaughter, Meghen Arnold Wade; her great grandson, Zachary “Zach” Arnold; her granddaughter-in-law, Anna Rivkin Arnold; her grandson-in-law, Wayland Wade II; her younger sisters, Linda Ryan and Elaine Hemann; nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. She loved them all dearly. Truly, if ever there was someone who loved unconditionally, she was that person!
The family would like to give special thanks for the care given to Margaret by: Ascend Hospice; Golden Hearts Assisted Living; St. Joseph Catholic Church; Sisters, Servants of Mary; Erin Barrett, Eucharistic Minister; Dr. Eric Baker.
A Calvary graveside service will be held in Little Rock, AR at a later date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Sisters Servants of Mary (Kansas City, KS) in Margaret's name.