Lucas Petkovsek, Jr. was born December 17, 1923 and passed away Sunday, May 20, 2007 at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth. Luke was a native resident of Beaumont, the son of Lucas and Edith Taylor Petkovsek. He graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1941 after an illustrious, athletic career. A talent he passed on to his sons. His college education at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and Lamar Junior College was interrupted by World War II, when he served in the Navy in amphibious action in the Pacific, attaining the rank of Lieutenant (jg). In 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Claire Brocato, and returned to college under the GI Bill. In 1948 he received a BS in Business Administration from Southwestern Louisiana, Inst. (University of Louisiana, Lafayette). He returned to Beaumont and spent his entire working career with Mobil Corporation, retiring in 1983 as an administrative executive of Mobil Chemical Company.
He took pride in service in Beaumont Jaycees, Lions Club, Administrative Management Society, Sabine Area Industrial Relations Assn., Serra Club, Beaumont Assn. of Senior Citizens Advisory Council and was a Dale Carnegie Instructor. He was pleased to work in the initial capital fund drives for the construction of St. Elizabeth Hospital and Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School.
His religious faith was a dominant force in his life; first, as a youth at St Anthony Catholic Church, and since 1957, at St. Anne Catholic Church. He was most proud of organizing and leading forty-nine+ St. Anne Seniors for twelve years and serving as a member of the Bishop Bernard Ganter Pastoral Council for the Diocese of Beaumont. Most recently he was awarded the Msgr. Richard DeStefano Faithful Steward Award, a timely recognition for his many years of service.
In retirement, Luke enjoyed golf, and with his sons established the Petkovsek Invitational Golf Tournament (PIGT), the delight of his family and friends. In his leisure, he became a self acclaimed wine maker.
Luke was proud of his Slovenian heritage which he studied and documented for his family. Luke also wrote a summation of his participation in World War II (entitled “The Story of Shanghai Luke”). He quoted the wise man who said, “A man’s life is not complete until he has fathered a son, built a house, and written a book.” Though not of professional quality, he felt he had fulfilled the wise man’s requirements.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Mary Claire; and by eight children and their spouses, Lucas A. and Anne Marie, Thomas and Mary Ann, Walter Scott, Mary Sappington and Jim, Joan Cook and Burnell, Jim and Betty, Christine Darling and Bill, Mark and Heather; and his twenty grandchildren, Jenny, Todd, Tom, Matthew and Michael Petkovsek, Gwen Kinne, David and Eric Koch, Mary Claire and Beth Sappington, Shae and Cory Collins, Katie, Burnell, Jr., Ellie and Lucas Cook, Sara and Justin Lott, Rebecca and Hannah Petkovsek, Emily, William, Jr. and John Darling, Mark, Jr. and Jack Petkovsek.
He is also survived by his sister, Katherine P. Key; and sister-in-law, Verde Petkovsek; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, James E. Petkovsek and Martin H. Petkovsek.
In “Luke’s Letters” to his children, he defined his creed: “Be fervent in your religious faith, seek excellence in all you undertake, be generous in your praise of others, help those less fortunate.”
It could be said that Luke was counted in the “Greatest Generation” and that he had the humblest way of being successful. He was a gentle man!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 24, 2007 at St. Anne Catholic Church with burial to follow at Magnolia Cemetery under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A Christian Vigil will be 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at the Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anne Catholic School, 375 North 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702; Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School, 5950 Kelly Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77707 or Some Other Place, P.O. 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
