Verna K. “Kris” Lucks

Verna K. “Kris” Lucks

April 14, 1931 – April 11, 2019

Kris, age 87, was the daughter of Christian Olsen and Anna Miller and was preceded in death by her parents, and by her husband, Herbert “Jim” Lucks. Kris is survived by children: Steven J. Lucks, M.D., Paul Lucks (Sandy), David Lucks (Denise), Karen Heiman (Gregg); ten grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren.

VISITATION: Friday, April 19^th from 6pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel.  SERVICES:  Saturday, April 20^th at 10:30am at the West Center Chapel.  Interment, Hillcrest. Memorials are suggested to Breast Cancer Research Foundation (www.BCRF.org) or Mental Health America (mentalhealthamerica.net)

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Verna Kirstine “Kris” Lucks was born in Omaha, Nebraska on April 14, 1931, and was the only child to Christian Olsen and Anna Miller. She was known as Verna to most of her family throughout her lifetime but embraced the nickname “Kris” (short for an adaptation of her middle name) when she began high school.  She met the love of her life “Jim” (aka Herbert James) Lucks during her senior year while working together at Herzberg shoe store. As a teenager, her first job was taking a streetcar to pick tomatoes in a field. In her spare time, she volunteered at Methodist Hospital as a candy-striper. She graduated from Central High School in 1949.

After high school, Jim joined the Air Force and while home on leave, married Kris on January 4, 1952. They lived in Omaha for the majority of their marriage with the exception of a brief stay in Long Island, NY where Jim was stationed in the Air Force. Kris was a stay-at-home mom to their four children:  Steve, Paul, David and Karen.  They raised their kids in the Westgate community where they lived in the same house for over 40 years.  It was in Westgate where they made some of the best friends of their lifetime and experienced one of the most memorable tragedies ever to hit Omaha – the 1975 tornado.   While the tornado completely destroyed their home, they were determined to rebuild in the same location where they continued to live and raise their family.

Kris was very proud of her Danish heritage and whenever she would meet a fellow “Dane” would engage in conversation in the Danish language.  As a proud, “stubborn Dane”, she persevered to overcome breast cancer twice in her life.  Her spiritual journey began at age 13 when she was confirmed in the Lutheran Church.  She and Jim were long-time members of Countryside Community Church for many years; later in life Kris became a regular TV listener of Charles Stanley of  InTouch Ministries.

Kris enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, volunteering at church, attending bible studies, dancing at the German American Club, hosting friends for morning coffee and eating at her favorite restaurants– Farmer Brown’s and Gorat’s. She was a long-time member of the Red Hat Society and PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization), a group committed to helping women pursue higher education.

After 63 years of marriage, Kris lost her husband Jim in 2015 and shortly after, moved from her home in Westgate to Elk Ridge Retirement Community in Elkhorn, where she met many great friends, became an avid Wii bowler and helped with the community garden.  Kris loved and was very proud of all their 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and longed to be with them whenever possible. She passed away three days short of her 88^th birthday.  We will deeply miss her constant hugs, her smile, her laughter, her winsome personality, and the time she invested in each of our lives.