Karen Denise Lukas

KAREN DENISE LUKAS

Karen Denise Lukas, age 55, a lifelong resident of Colorado died at home on February 23, 2024, surrounded by love and her family in Cortez, Colorado. Karen entered this world on August 3, 1968, in Delta, Colorado to the delight of her parents Reba (nee Williamson) and Philip Lukas and many others eagerly awaiting her arrival. She was the eldest of six children. As the eldest granddaughter from her maternal side, she naturally became a role model and a surrogate “big sister” to many of her younger cousins. She also held the special title of “Auntie” to eight cherished nieces and nephews. In our family most of us answer to more than one name, our given name, but most often our lovingly bestowed nickname. To us Karen was “Kare Bare.” Her father once proudly professed that they named her Karen because “they knew she would be a carein’ and sharein’ kind of person.” His sentiments were shared by all those fortunate enough to have known her.

Karen’s purpose in this world was to make it a happier place. She was born with natural charisma and a vivacious personality that eclipsed her surroundings but never overshadowed others. Her smile could brighten the darkest of days and her laughter was contagious. As a small child Karen would give visitors to her home handmade tickets so that they could return to visit her again. This creative and generous spirit stayed with her always. She was brilliantly smart, loved hard and apologized often and with genuine sincerity. Gifted with an innate social aptitude that drew others to her, Karen was a friend to all. Her quick wit and uncanny sense of humor were a gift to the world. She was the lightness in the dark, the rainbow after the storm. The world was a better place with Karen in it. Her loss means the world now, is a little dimmer, a little melancholier.

She had an unyielding passion for adventure from a young age, as a young child she could be, to her delight and her mother’s dismay, found riding on her dad’s shoulders on their motorcycle. Whether it be drifting through the snow-covered terrain on a snowmobile, the feel of the open road on a motorcycle, bouncing across open fields on an ATV, the thrill of horseback riding or blasting Kid Rock on the stereo in her pickup truck, Karen was always up to whatever adventure life brought her way. She had the patience and tenacity for drawing, coloring, calligraphy, debating political and social topics. She was hungry for knowledge and never ceased her quest to learn new things from every life experience. She was also an avid reader, legal fiction was her favorite genre, with John Grisham being among her favorite authors. Karen had a special relationship with nature, she felt at home in the world outside, that is probably why she enjoyed gardening where she produced beautiful tomatoes. Karen had a knack for fashion, showmanship and beauty that was rooted in her teenage years. She was an accomplished cheerleader and dancer. She cherished her beautiful clothes, shoes and jewelry. However, she was just as confident in work boots and sweats when helping on the family dairy farm. In fact, Karen was confident in all aspects of her life whether making up silly songs in the moment or guiding others with her intellectual advice or just living in the moment and enjoying live music. Among her love of beauty was her collection decorative eggs, her favorite of which was an authentic Fabergé egg. Karen had the opportunity to travel all over the United States when she accompanied her father on work trips. Her travels took her from coast to coast and gave her a broader perspective of the world. You can summarize Karen in so many ways, she was endearing, generous, adventurous, wise and most of all fun.

Karen is proceeded in death by her paternal grandparents: Fern and Harry Lukas, her maternal grandparents: Dixie (nee Stanley) and William Williamson, her nephew: Austin Lukas and her beloved dog: Frenchie. Left to grieve in her absence are her parents: Reba and Philip Lukas, her five siblings: Buster Lukas, Phyllis (Mike) Dennison, Lacey Lukas, Gus Lukas, and Jake Lukas, seven nieces and nephews: Augustine Hager, Renee Lesueur, Elisa Lukas, Gracie Fruhling, McKenzie Lukas, Buster Lukas and Gradey Fruhling and her goddaughter: Nicole Williamson in addition to a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and her beloved dog Rosco.

Her family is planning a celebration of life for the summer 2024.

“Mothers are not supposed to bury their children. It goes against nature, when a mother loses her young the world slips off it’s axis and spins out of control, The Universe mourns knowing it has gone against the circle of life, children should bury their mothers, not the other way around.”                  -MaryBeth Cichocki