Daniel Evans Lukacs

LAKE TWP. — Daniel Evans Lukacs, 71, of Lake Township, passed away Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.

He was born in Somerville, N.J., on May 11, 1953, and was the son of the late John Lukacs and Esther Evans Lukacs Young, RN. Daniel graduated from Lake-Lehman High School, where he played in the band, and was a graduate of Pacific-Western University, Los Angeles, California, where he earned his bachelor's degree in public administration and majored in law enforcement. He was also an Act 120 graduate from the PA State Police Municipal Police Training School in Wyoming. Daniel also attended various PA State Police recurrent training courses.

In addition to his law enforcement training, he also held a commercial and an airline transport pilot license. Daniel served as a pilot with Allegheny Commuter Airline, American Eagle Airline, Jewelcor Inc., US Food Service Inc., Tech Aviation and an aircraft management company serving numerous partners of locally operated jets.

From 1978 to 1993, he served as an active part-time police officer with the Lehman Township and Dallas Township police departments. Daniel also worked for what is now called the 911 center and was a police communications operator for the PA State Police at Troop N HQ in West Hazleton.

Daniel was a member of the Back Mountain Police Association, Allied Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Rifle Association, sons of the American Legion, Dallas American Legion Post 672, and Airline Pilots Association.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Eugene W. Young; and maternal grandparents, Roy and Stella Hoover Evans.

He is survived by his sister, Maureen Gosart and her husband, Ronald, of Laflin; nephew, William McIntosh, of Dallas; niece, Lori Cresho and her husband, Michael, of West Pittston, and their two children, Mikayla and Cole; cousins; Lukacs family living in New Jersey; and his feline companions.

Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday from Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home Inc., routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with Pastor Dennis Gray and Carl Howie, officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon, prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Warden Cemetery, Dallas Township.

Memorial donations may be made to the Daddow-Issacs American Legion, 730 Memorial Highway, Dallas, PA 18612; or the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Condolences can be made at clswansonfuneralhome.com.

Thank you all who helped Danny!