Philip Nathaniel Lukas

Phil loved to laugh and to make people laugh. He loved to have fun. He was a great storyteller, which is fortunate, because he loved telling them. Phil had a love of history, especially Florida’s history. He enjoyed bird watching with his wife, Sarah. His favorite birding spot was Black Point Drive. Phil and Sarah would often go to the Canaveral National Seashore to enjoy watching the sunrise. Phil adored his two children immensely and his greatest joy was spending time with his five grandchildren. Phil’s passing leaves an unimaginable void in the lives of his wife, children, and entire family.

Phil’s generosity, honesty, intelligence, and laughter will be deeply missed by all who knew him. So many things that he loved and enjoyed – America, music (Elvis above all), Corvettes, jokes, fireworks, fighter jets, museums, grilling for family and friends, nature, flowers, rare and exotic plants (particularly banana and palm trees), Florida Springs, and he truly enjoyed tipping and gifting $2 bills.

Phil’s business acumen started as a car salesman in Leesburg, Florida. He was an incredible negotiator. Phil’s success in the plant nursery industry made him famous in Florida and the Southeast. His marketing genius and passion for making people happy made Lukas Nursery into the successful destination it is today. He dearly loved the environment and helped to make the world more beautiful. He truly made people fall in love with plants and creating their own “Backyard Paradise.” An example of his ingenuity was the creation of the plant descriptions at the nursery, one of his lasting legacies. He had the gift of writing eloquent descriptions on every plant that would transport the reader to create a vision. Often weaving history or an interesting fact about the plants that would make them special in their own way. Phil brought the Butterfly Encounter concept to Lukas Nursery and the environmental education to children and adults. What a way to make a positive and lasting impact on the world!

Phil leaves behind his wife, Sarah, daughter Lorin and her husband Tanner, son Lee and his wife Jessica. The spouses who married into his family became a part of his brood very naturally. He leaves behind his five grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, his brother Paul and his mother Gertrude. Preceding him in Heaven are Phil’s father, Paul Lukas, and brothers Jonathan and Stanley.

Memorial donations may be made to Phil’s favorite charities:

Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, www.dakotaranch.org

Mount Dora Christian Academy, www.mdcacademy.org