Muriel Joan Lukovich (nee Junkin)

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Muriel Joan Lukovich, the heart and soul of our family, on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at St. Boniface hospital.

A beautiful and vibrant individual, loving and devoted Mother, wife, and loyal friend, Muriel Joan, also known as “Joan”, gave her full attention to every person and cause she believed in. Born at the Misericordia hospital in Winnipeg to Verlie and Lloyd George Junkin, Joan was raised as a child with her brother Bruce in Sanford. Here, she developed a love for animals and trees while caring for abandoned creatures and discovering the prairie landscape. Joan excelled in reading, writing, and school while at the same time cultivating her talent in art with the guidance of her aunt, Muriel Bamford Turner.

The highest standing student in her year in Manitoba in Grade 9, Muriel Joan moved to Winnipeg to attend United College, where she fostered many close friendships in residence, and graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts in English and French Literature, excelling at both. At this time, Joan also pursued multiple occupations including working in medical offices, retail, and with the Winnipeg Free Press, and interests including jazz ballet, art, reading, and writing. In her final year of university and before starting a Master’s in English literature, Muriel Joan met her loving husband of 54 years, Ted Lukovich.

Always putting others before herself, Joan gave the best life and care to her family. She created a household filled with love, while attending to practical matters with an attention to detail. Motivated by Joan’s thirst for knowledge, Ted and Joan explored, together with family, Canadian provinces, Manitoba towns and Winnipeg’s cultural scene. Muriel Joan was a fiercely loving, loyal, and supportive mother to her daughter — they were soulmates and best friends. Muriel created a beautiful and happy childhood for Jennifer, introducing magical, stimulating, gentle and unexplored worlds, while providing the strongest education and values for life.

Highly intelligent, fiercely independent and determined with a creative and enquiring mind, Muriel Joan was interested in and contributed to art, literature, politics, current and geopolitical affairs, justice and women’s and animal rights. An avid reader, Joan would consume a book a week to satiate an endless curiosity, often commenting on its prescience, timeliness and relevance to society. A graceful and beautiful dancer, Muriel was also a gifted writer and artist, yet modest about her talents. Joan took jazz ballet at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for 30 years, and would illuminate a room with her presence. Muriel Joan published an illustrated children’s book, “Emily-Anne and the walking stick”, ahead of its time in demonstrating the need for reconciliation and appreciation of the natural world. Joan presented the book at Arbor Day hosted by Trees Winnipeg to cultivate an interest in trees amongst children. Muriel rediscovered her passion for art and painting in recent decades through art classes at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and produced breathtaking works of art reflective of a wild, gifted and dynamic spirit that captivated all who knew her; her paintings were displayed at an art show at Gallery Lacosse in 2019.

Joan brought creativity and style to all aspects of her life, and with it, life itself. Together with a deep appreciation for art, Muriel was driven by her convictions, a strong sense of justice, and a love of animals and nature. Muriel volunteered for the Winnipeg Humane Society, Women’s Resource Centre, Journeys, and the Liberals for a number of years with a commitment to effecting change and making the world a better and more compassionate place. Muriel gave the best life to all of her pets, while also rescuing a feral cat from winter and horses from auction and slaughter. Time at the lake and in the neighbourhood park reflected a desire to connect with nature in urban and rural landscapes.

Friends, family and acquaintances recognize Joan as a thoughtful, kind and gentle soul, and a truly special human being. Joan demonstrated what it meant to live a meaningful life fuelled by compassion and principles, and understood and offered all that is truly important in the world; love, beauty, kindness, empathy, a sense of duty and responsibility, and a gentleness and generosity of spirit. All who knew her are devastated by her loss.

Left to mourn Joan’s passing are her husband, Ted Lukovich, daughter Jennifer Verlaine Lukovich, cat Oliver, and sheltie Kate. Joan was predeceased by her parents, Verlie and Lloyd George Junkin; brother, Bruce Turner Junkin, and aunt, Muriel Bamford Turner. The family would like to thank to Dr. Heather Domke for medical care over the years.

Cremation has taken place. In honour of Muriel Joan’s memory and contributions to this world, a graveside gathering will be held on Wednesday, October 14th at 2:00 pm at Sanford Cemetery, followed by a reception at 3:30pm. The reception location will be provided once finalized through Thomson in the Park service and obituary updates. If so desired, donations may be made to a charity of choice, or a memorial tree planted.

Joan is and always will be, deeply missed, loved, and admired by her husband, daughter, and all who were fortunate to have known her. Rest in peace, Mommy. Your memory will live forever in the trees, landscapes, animals you have rescued, nurtured, and supported, the stories and paintings you have created, and the love, beauty, and care that you contributed to our world.