Bernard W. Lucas

Bernard William Lucas, 94, of Nora Springs, Iowa, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025, at Homestead Assisted Living in Mason City. 

Bernie was born on June 19,1930, in Mason City, Iowa, to Herman and Auguste (Kroeger) Lucas. He attended Jefferson Elementary and Roosevelt Junior High before graduating from Mason City High School in 1948. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the beginning of the Korean War and served, among other positions, as a weather observer at Adak Naval Air Facility on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. He was honorably discharged in August of 1954. 

Soon upon his return to Mason City, Bernie met Peggy Phelan at a local dance and they were married on December 26th, 1954. To this union three children were born: Randy, Timothy, and Deborah. Bernie and Peggy shared 70 loving years of marriage.

Following the service Bernie attended Mason City Junior College (NIACC) where he received an Associate of Arts degree. During and after attending NIACC Bernie held a variety of positions, including employment at St. Clair-Starks Clothiers and Lincoln Mercury Ford. He worked for Retail Credit Company (now known as Equifax) for 20 years, and in his spare time remodeled houses and rebuilt salvage title cars. He also owned/operated the Nora Springs Drive Inn restaurant for a time. Later in his career Bernie worked in real estate sales with Edwards Brandt, did crop adjusting, and was an independent house appraiser for local banks. Following retirement, he and Peggy enjoyed many happy winters in Arizona with fellow Iowa snowbirds.

Bernie was well known for his mischievousness, and loved to tease and play pranks. He had a wide range of interests and activities, including the New Horizons band and the North Iowa Vintage Auto Club, and was a collector of coins, saxophones, cars, art prints, etc. He was noted for his thrifty ways, and was nicknamed "El Cheapo" by his McDonalds coffee group. Bernie will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Peggy; his children, Randy (Susan), and Tim (Betty); his grandchildren, Matt (Courtne), Becky (Greg), Jennifer (Nick), Erin (Nate), Brittanie (Blake), Abby (Jon), and Tom; 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Carl (Darlene).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Auguste; his daughter, Deborah; his sister, Ellanora; and a great-granddaughter, Aubre.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials in Bernie's name to the Humane Society of North Iowa, as he was an avid dog lover.