Walter S. 'Wally' Lucas

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Walter S. "Wally" Lucas, 76, of Eldorado, passed away at 4:25 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at the Harrisburg Medical Center.

He was born May 30, 1932, in West Frankfort to Walter Lucas and Kathleen (Stewart) Lucas. He married Toni (Hayes) Lucas on Nov. 25, 1961, in West Frankfort.

Survivors include his wife, Toni Lucas of Eldorado; daughter, Staci Warren and grandson, Jacob Lucas Warren of Marion; brother, Don and Joyce Lucas of West Frankfort; brother-in-law, Jim Hayes of Aiken, S.C., several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Jeanne Brenner.

Wally graduated from West Frankfort High School in the class of 1949 and thereafter entered the School of Engineering at the University of Illinois, Champaign. After graduating from U of I in 1953, he entered U.S. Military Service as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Army Combat Engineers and was stationed in Germany. While in the service he traveled extensively throughout Europe and Africa.

After serving his two years of military service, Wally returned to Southern Illinois and was employed by the Sahara Coal Company as a coal preparation engineer. He rapidly rose in the company becoming vice president in charge of all mining operations, both surface and underground. Wally remained in charge of Sahara Coal Mining Operations for over 20 years and until Sahara Coal ceased all mining operations.

After his employment with Sahara, Wally established his own registered professional engineer consulting business with offices in Harrisburg. Wally maintained his office until his death. Wally was a member of the Illinois Mining Institute and is a past president. He also is a member of the Registered Professional Engineering Society, member and sponsor of Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and many other fraternal and business organizations.

Wally was a avid outdoorsman and loved water fowl and big game hunting. He, along with his brother, established Honker Hill Hunting Club in 1981 in Williamson County next to Crab Orchard Lake's National Wildlife Refuge. He was particularly proud that the club was officially recognized as one of the best in the state by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois.

During his adult life, he successfully hunted big game in the western states as well as Alaska, Canada and Africa. In 2005, he took his beloved grandson, Jacob, to Colorado and served as his guide and mentor where Jacob bagged his first elk. In 2005 Wally and his brother Don, turned Honker Hill into a vineyard with the first harvest of grapes in 2008. Wally and his brother began the construction of the Lucas Brothers Winery at Honker Hill scheduled to be completed in December 2008.

Wally was much loved by his family and friends and will be missed but not forgotten, especially by his wife Toni; daughter, Staci; grandson, Jacob; brother, Don; and all his nephews and nieces and brother-in-law Jim Hayes.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at the Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort with the Rev. Dennis Robison and the Rev. Herb Buche officiating. Burial will be in the Boner Cemetery in West Frankfort. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Friends of the Eldorado Memorial Library of Eldorado or the Eldorado First Christian Church and will be accepted at the funeral home. For more information or to sign the guest register visit the Internet site www.parkerreedyfuneralhome.com.