Tatjana Lukner

Tatjana Kutilin Lukner passed away peacefully at Alive Hospice on December 29th after a brave 13 year battle with Breast Cancer. She is survived by her husband Roland, son Ralf Lukner(Beth) of Pampa, TX, son Hans Lukner(Sonja) of Sedro Woolley, WA, daughter Gwen Gordon(Frank) of Nashville, TN, brother Paul(Therese) of Kapfenberg, Austria, brother Eugene(Sharlene) of Vancouver, BC and 11 Grandchildren, Elizabeth, Catherine, David, Joseph, Steven, Erik, Sven and Karina Lukner and Gavin, Cam and Taylor Gordon. She was born in Tiflis, Republic of Georgia on May 31, 1940. Due to the effects of World War II, Tatjana and her family fled to Austria and she grew up in Kapfenberg. She attended the Karl-Franzens University in Graz, Austria and studied English, Russian and Philosophy. She graduated in 1964, moved to Frankfurt, Germany and worked in translation within the synthetic textiles industry. She emigrated to Vancouver, Canada in October 1965 and taught Russian at the University of Burnaby. She subsequently met Roland F. Lukner and they married on December 31, 1966. Teaching opportunities for her husband took them to Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA , Maryville College in Maryville,TN and to Germany, Traben-Trarbach Rhineland-Palatinate where Tatjana had the opportunity to teach German language to US military personnel at the Hahn Air Force Base for 7 years and Host Nation education for US elementary school children for 2 years. In 1979, the family relocated to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where Tatjana was the bookkeeper for the Boy Scouts of America, District Office. In 1987 the family moved to Dallas, Texas and she worked for the telecommunication company Ericsson, Inc. Upon retirement she and her husband moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

Tatjana always loved challenges and she tried to finish a task no matter how difficult. She was a hard worker and always did the best she could. Whether it was going on scouting camp-outs with her sons, supporting her daughter in cheerleading, or encouraging all of the children’s academic and athletic pursuits; she wanted to be there for her children. Tatjana loved being in nature, hiking in the mountains and expressing herself artistically, especially with painting. She always finished a painting, a sculpture or pottery creation, no matter how consequential or inconsequential it appeared. Tatjana was always looking for new challenges, like taking up the guitar as an adult. Much to the enjoyment of her children and grandchildren, she loved intuitive cooking and wrote a cookbook of her most favorite recipes. Most of all, she loved and cared for her family and children who were her life’s purpose.

Visitation with the family will be from 1-2 P.M. on Tuesday, January 2nd at Belle Meade United Methodist Church 121 Davidson Road, Nashville TN, with Funeral Services immediately following at 2 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Gilda's Club of Nashville or Alive Hospice.

“The End and the Reward of Toil is Rest” (James Beattie)