Patricia Ruth Lucas

Patricia (Pat) Ruth Lucas, 87, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away on September 21, 2026, at Coventry Meadows Assisted Living Memory Care. Born March 5, 1939, in Menominee, Michigan, to Rollin and Dorothy Kleman. She is survived by three daughters: Pam Todd (Greg) of Bloomington, IN; Nancy White (Eric) of Roanoke, IN; and Susan Lucas (Brian) of Waterford, MI; five grandchildren: Matthew Todd (Emily) of Carmel, IN; Melissa Todd of Bloomington, IN; Lauren Feuerstein (Adam) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Michelle Moscrip (Tyler) of Bloomington, IN; and Kate Green(Kenny) of San Francisco, CA; and seven great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, John Thomas Lucas; her sister Nancy Briscoe; her brother-in-law Lyle Briscoe; and parents Rollin and Dorothy Kleman.

Pat graduated from Menominee High School in 1957. After high school, Pat attended Milwaukee County Hospital School of Nursing for two years before transferring to Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis to complete her degree in X-ray Technology in1961. While studying at Indiana University, Pat passed the time playing her favorite card game, bridge, with fellow students. One night while playing cards in a co-ed student bridge group, she met Tom Lucas, a second-year medical student. She was thrilled to meet such a handsome, smart boy who could play bridge. The two began to date and continued to play in the co-ed bridge group with friends. When they became engaged, Tom finally confessed to Pat that he really did not like playing cards; he only did it to meet women. She was disappointed to hear this and resorted to playing in the all-woman bridge group.

Tom and Pat were married June 10, 1961, at First Presbyterian church in Menominee, Michigan. They were married for 42 years until Tom’s death on August 13, 2003. Tom graduated from Indiana University Medical School in 1962 and entered the Navy to complete his Residency in Pathology. Pat endured multiple Naval base moves and parented their two young girls alone while Tom was stationed in Vietnam on a hospital ship for a year. When Tom retired from the Navy, the family moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, then finally settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Pat and Tom raised three daughters, Pamela, Nancy, and Susan. A loving mother who devoted her time and energy to raising their daughters. Pat and Tom instilled confidence, the value of education, and the importance of family. She was an amazing mother who juggled the girls’ busy school, activities, and sports schedules. Driving them to countless tennis tournaments, gymnastics meets, horse shows, and the horse barn. She even mastered pulling a horse trailer with a Cadillac so she could take Susan and her horse to horse shows. This took an amazing amount of courage behind the wheel. She was also crafty and creative. She made Halloween costumes, Christmas ornaments, and learned how to sew appliqués on the preppy purse covers for the girls. She was always willing to help with school projects, never complaining when Nancy picked the hardest projects, like a diorama for her book report or making traditional Ukrainian Easter Eggs for her school projects. While simultaneously helping Pam collect leaves all over town for the impossible Snider High School freshman leaf project and teaching Susan to read without Phonics. She planned special themed birthday parties for her girls, and every year she would make their favorite angel food cake with fluffy pink meringue icing. Tom always requested his favorite, German Chocolate cake, for his birthday. Mom even surprised Susan with her first horse by tying him to a tree in our front yard, so Susan would see him when she got off the school bus. It was the best birthday present ever for Susan and a huge surprise to our neighbors. She showered her girls, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with love and always remembered their birthdays and anniversaries by sending a special card with a generous gift inside.

Pat was an excellent cook and entertainer. She hosted many dinner parties with friends and would make extraordinary holiday meals. She would prepare amazing holiday meals every year. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she prepared three days of fabulous meals for the family. Every year she made enormous trays of homemade Christmas cookies for family and friends to enjoy. One year, during a power outage, she sat in a dark, cold house by the fireplace, icing sugar cookies and determined to finish them in time for Christmas. She continued hosting Christmas and making her homemade cookies well into her 80s until she reluctantly passed the torch to her daughter.

She was eager to share her knowledge of entertaining and cooking with her children and grandchildren. She chuckled about the day she received two very different recipe requests from her two daughters. Nancy asked for a hollandaise sauce recipe, and pregnant Pam asked for the graham crackers and icing recipe. Susan learned to master Mom’s famous baked BBQ ribs and would make them for Mom when she visited her in Michigan. She even taught her grandson Matthew how to cook salmon fillets properly and to always be prepared for unexpected guests who stop by, having wine in your fridge and frozen shrimp in the freezer to make a quick shrimp cocktail.

Pat was a proficient homemaker. She kept an immaculate house; she was an expert at ironing clothes, removing any clothing stain, and a perfectionist when making beds with perfect hospital corners every time. Her children could rarely make beds that would pass her inspection. She would secretly remake the bed when they left if it did not meet her approval.

Pat loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She made hand-knitted items, spoiled them with gifts, books, and clothing. She was an accomplished knitter and would knit baby blankets and beautiful sweaters for each grandchild. They still cherish their blankets today. Every year, she worked very hard to find items on their Christmas list. One Christmas, she searched everywhere for the popular talking Elmo to give to her granddaughter, Michelle. She finally bought an Elmo from a man selling them out of his trunk behind the Target. Much to Pat’s dismay, Michelle was afraid of Elmo, and he was banished to her closet.

Besides raising three girls, Pat was involved in various organizations: Junior League, church groups, PTA, Women’s Medical Auxiliary, and Zoo fundraising and membership. The Zoo was her favorite organization to support. Every year she organized and served at the Zoo Luau member picnic, serving watermelon and chili dogs to hundreds of members. Donating her time and money to the zoo was very important to Pat. She sponsored a warthog every year and donated for a Christmas reindeer to attend her Fort Wayne grandchildren’s Christmas party at their home.

Pat was gregarious, always smiling and looking forward to time spent with her friends. She could strike up a conversation with any stranger. She met her friend Florence, a stranger, while having coffee at a nearby McDonald's. They have remained good friends for the last 40 years. She cherished all the friendships she had developed over the years. Some of her favorite things in life were having wine and snack nights with her friends Jim and Lucy, Mocha Lounge Coffee dates with her neighborhood girlfriends, bridge luncheons with her Sycamore Bridge group, and having breakfast with the Honolua Store porch friends in Maui.

We are saddened to have lost such a beautiful mother who put her heart and soul into raising us to be the best adults we could become. She always showered everyone in the family with unconditional love and support. Mom has joined our father, other loved ones, and old friends in a better place. She is looking down on us with a heart full of pride and a smile on her face as she watches our lives on earth.

Please join the family for a reception with drinks and appetizers on October 24th, from 1-3 pm at the Fort Wayne Country Club (5221 Covington Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804) to celebrate the life of Patricia Lucas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fort Wayne Zoo, 3411 Sherman Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46808, www.fwzoo.com.