CAPE ELIZABETH — Vincent J. “Luke” Lukas, 90, died May 7 at his home.

He was born in Kingston, N.Y., the son of Walter and Pelagia Lukas. He attended local schools and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school.

In 1941 he was stationed at Fort Williams and it was there that he met the love of his life, Nellie Piszczak, at a USO dance; they were married on Feb. 6, 1943. Together they made their home and raised their family in Cape Elizabeth.

He was discharged from the military in 1945 and went on to work at Jordan Meats for a brief time before taking a job doing carpentry with George Lewis. During that time he also served as president of the Carpenters Union Local 517. He later went to work for Rufus Deering Lumber as a sales manager, a position he held for more than 17 years before he retired in the 1980s.

Lukas was a very skilled handyman and always wanted to keep busy; he was constantly working on projects around his home, building things and working in the yard.

He was a fan of all the New England Sports team but was a Yankee’s fan at heart. He loved playing golf with friends and spending his winters with his wife in Hawaii. His happiest memories were the times he spent surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Lukas was a lifelong communicant of St. Louis Catholic Church in Portland.

He was predeceased by his wife, Nellie, in 2001 and an infant son, Vincent J. Lukas Jr.

Lukas is survived by his daughter, Waleria Ann Swift of Cape Elizabeth; grandchildren Matt Swift of Cape Elizabeth; Erika and her husband, Jay Holtermann, of San Diego, Calif. and Amanda Swift and her companion, Jimmy Alatishe, of Washington, D.C.; four great grandchildren Benjamin Swift, Sage and Luke Holtermann and Khaleel Alatishe; sister-in-law Jane Radziucz of Cape Elizabeth; and several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on May 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home on May 12 at 9:15 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. funeral service at St. Louis Church, 729 Danforth St., Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Maine Veterans Home, Residential Care Facility, c/o Pam Capelle, 290 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.

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