William "Bill" L. Lucas

William "Bill" L Lucas, 83, of Edina, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2026.

Bill was born on April 10, 1943, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a young boy, he enjoyed fishing, played KC youth sports, and was an altar server. He began playing the accordion at age ten. It became a lifelong passion, and he was known to bring the accordion out at family gatherings, to play on birthdays, at church ice-cream socials, and even to play on Halloween for the trick-or-treating kids. Over the past two decades, Bill also pursued a passion for purchasing, rebuilding, and repairing dozens of accordions. He also loved dancing and was famously known to crash local Polish weddings. His many other favorite pastimes included playing cards, ice skating, skiing, golfing, biking, tennis, and reading.

Bill attended St. Anthony of Padua Church and Grade School, followed by St. Thomas Academy. He then graduated from the St. Thomas College for Men.

In 1966, Bill was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. That same year, he married Claudette Hajny at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Northeast Minneapolis. He began his military career at Mather Air Force Base Flight School, where he attended Navigation and Electronic Warfare Officer School. Following his B-52 training, he reported to Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico. He was stationed there from 1967 to 1971 and proudly flew 63 missions in the Vietnam War.

Upon returning to Minneapolis, Bill earned his law degree at William Mitchell College of Law. He practiced law for more than 40 years before retiring in 2023. Bill served on the Board of Catholic United Financial and their Foundation Board until his death.

Bill was deeply devoted to his faith. He loved serving as a lector and did so at every parish he belonged to over the years, most recently at St. Patrick’s. He loved tinkering in his tool room and being at the family table sharing food, stories, laughter, and conversation. Bill also treasured the Polish traditions of Christmas and Easter, including blessing food at Easter and Wigilia on Christmas Eve. Bill provided a beautiful example of how to live a loving faith based life, serving as an exceptional role model for his family and grandchildren.

Bill was highly committed to God, family, country, and the law. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.

Bill was preceded in death by parents, Mary and Lambert Lucas, and brothers Richard and Dean. Survived by spouse of sixty years, Claudette (Hajny), daughters Juliet "Jill" Keller and Sara (John) Peterman, grandchildren Lucas, Jack, William, Andrew, and Emily Sophia, siblings Jeanne Evenson, Luke (Marilyn) Lucas, Paul (Wendy) Lucas, Barbara (Dale) Thompson, and John (Patricia) Lucas, and several Godchildren, Confirmandi, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 16 from 4 to 6 pm at Gearty-Delmore Park Chapel, 3960 Wooddale Ave (@ Excelsior Blvd). Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, July 17 at 10:00AM, with visitation one hour prior to Mass, all at the Church of St. Patrick of Edina, 6820 St. Patrick's Lane, Edina. Interment: Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be donated in Bill's memory to ProLife Across America or The Catholic United Financial Foundation for their Catholic school grant program.