PAUL J. LUKAVICH

July 6, 1943 - April 10, 2009
WASHINGTON, IL - Paul J. Lukavich, 65, of Washington, IL, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 10, 2009, in his home with his family at his side. Paul was born on July 6, 1943, in South Bend, Indiana, to Paul J. and Gladys Piotrowski Lukavich.

He married Shirley White in South Bend on January 22, 1966. Shirley survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Michelle Lukavich of Washington; one brother, Gerald (Kathy) Lukavich of Springfield, Missouri; one sister, Barbara Sobierajski of North Liberty, Indiana; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a sister, Christine.

Paul retired in 2003 from Caterpillar where he had worked for 37 years. At retirement he was a senior project engineer and had worked in the Caterpillar facilities in Joliet, East Peoria and Peoria. While working at Caterpillar Paul had eight patents credited to him. He was a Vietnam Army veteran serving from 1966 to 1967 in the 70th Engineer Combat Battalion. Paul was the retired Chief of the Washington Rescue Squad and was also a member of the Tazewell County Firefighters Association. The Paul Lukavich Fire Training School of Tazewell County was named in his honor. He was also retired Chief of the Channahon Fire Department and had also served on the Planning Commission for the Village of Channahon, was a member of the Channahon Lions Club and of The Studebaker Drivers Club.

Paul was a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering and was also a member of the John Purdue Club. The Purdue ROTC recently began its Hall of Fame, and Paul was among the first group of inductees. During his high school years, Paul also earned the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Washington, with Father Eugene Radosevich officiating at 11 a.m. Visitation will be in the Mason-White Funeral Home in Washington from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. There will be a Firefighters Walk-Thru at 6 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be at Glendale Cemetery, with military rites accorded by the U.S. Army and the Tazewell Military Rites Team. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be sent to www.masonfuneralhomes.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Apr. 13, 2009.

04/28/2023 EJS

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