Arthur Lukowski Sr., 79, of Dyer, IN, died on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007 with his family by his bedside after his battle with congestive heart failure. Beloved husband of 50 years to Connie; devoted father to Arthur Jr. (Therese), Lisa and John; and cherished Papa to his grandchildren, Jill and Ben Smallman, Ian Lukowski, Danielle and Caitlin Lukowski. Born Sept. 24, 1927 in Kiev, Ukraine to his mother, Josephine and his father, Joseph. Arthur was 12 years old when World War II began, and his formal education ended when schools were converted to hospitals throughout Russia. In 1942 Arthur and his mother were imprisoned in a labor camp in Germany, and after the war awaited emigration in a post-war camp for three additional years. In 1954 Arthur came to America and settled in Chicago. In 1956 Arthur married his sweetheart, Connie, from Johnston City, IL. In 1961, after several years of learning the English language and working in restaurants in Chicago, Arthur opened “Art’s Drive-In” in Hammond, IN, which he successfully operated until 1979. In 1980 Arthur founded and opened Oil Express in Highland, IN. Soon after that he franchised the business and grew rapidly into several midwestern markets. Honors bestowed upon Oil Express founder, Arthur Lukowski, included the 1987 Entrepreneur of the Year, 1987 Top Ten Businesses in Illinois, 1988 National Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, University of Illinois, 1990 National Oil & Lube News Fast Lube Operator of the Year, 1996 Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award, University of Illinois. In 1997 Arthur wrote and published his own autobiography, entitled “Don’t Let The Accent Fool You” in which he chronicles his life’s events and business concepts. During Arthur’s retirement years, he and Connie traveled extensively and enjoyed their time on their boat, “The Work Of Art”. He was a prominent chess champion in Hammond and continued playing the game competitively until a week before his death. Arthur’s mission late in life was to educate people about the atrocities of war and communism, and in recent years his efforts brought audiences including Pope John Paul II and Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko to the mass grave where Arthur’s father was buried in 1937. Arthur will be deeply missed. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007 at Fagen-Miller Funeral Home, 8580 Wicker Avenue (Indianapolis Blvd.), St. John, IN, 46373. Burial in Chapel Lawn Cemetery in Schererville, IN. Friends may meet with the family on Tuesday at the funeral home from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Memorials to Hospice of the Calumet Area, 600 Superior, Munster, IN 46321, would be appreciated. For further information call 219-365-2674.
