John Richard "Jack" Lukeman

John Richard "Jack" Lukeman
Jacksonville - John Richard "Jack" Lukeman was born in Jacksonville the son of J. Richard and Helen (Wright) Lukeman. He graduated from Jacksonville High School, Culver Stockton College and attended University of Kansas. After serving four years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, he returned to Jacksonville and joined the family farm equipment business, Jacksonville Implement Co. Upon the death of his father, Lukeman joined his uncle, Elmer Lukeman, in the operation of Lukeman Clothing Co. They soon expanded the business with the addition of the East Bank Ltd Shop for Women. He later opened the Captain's Quarters Menswear which he ran until his retirement. With his wife Shirley, they owned West Side Stories Books and Gifts, Merrigan's Old Place restaurant and bar and Lukeman Leasing Co.
Lukeman served as President of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber Contact Club, the Morgan County Fair Assoc., the Downtown Merchants, Lincoln Square Merchants, and the West Plains Investors Group. He served as a Police and Fire Commissioner for Jacksonville for 30 years, as director of the Pleasant Plains State Bank and was a founding Board Member of the Premier Bank of Jacksonville. Jack was a longtime member of the Elks, AMVETS, Knights of Columbus and the Jacksonville Country Club.
He had a lifelong love of auto racing (especially sprint cars) and was known throughout the Midwest for his large collection of vintage automobiles. Jack loved meeting people, his monthly coffee group at Bahan's and summers at his home at Matanza Beach.
Jack is survived by his wife, Shirley (Tegeder) Lukeman, his son Chris (Anne) Lukeman of Champaign, sister Jane (Reg) Ankrom of Quincy, niece Alice (Tony) Garavalia and nephew Jud (Danielle) Ankrom, both of Troy, Illinois.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville. Private interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Jacksonville. The family will meet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Williamson Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Church of Our Saviour, PAWS, or the Art Association of Jacksonville. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.