Areta spent her early adult life raising her seven children and managing the family home. After her children were grown, she worked at the Freeburg Village Hall for many years, until such time that she and her husband retired and moved to Winter Haven, FL, where they lived for 9 years before moving back to Freeburg. Areta enjoyed traveling with her husband and their friends, including Ed and Esther Weber, John and Ona Higgins, John and Bernie Long, John and Lulu Brown, and Norton and Sue Henke; and later with her dear friends, including Verna Kuklinski, Jeri Kessler, Myrtle Pyatt and Virginia Funk (apologies if anyone was left out). She also enjoyed gardening, interior decorating, shopping, and reading. Areta was elegant and gracious, and never judgmental of anyone. She was the very heart and soul of her family and will be forever missed.
Areta was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur A. Lucash, whom she married on June 7, 1949, and who died on December 20, 2000; her parents Leo and Elsie Kessler (nee Zeilmann); two sisters, Shirley (Homer) Linder, and Leora (Harold) Wiegmann; a brother, Gerald “Chuck” Kessler; two sons, Thomas and Clark Lucash; and daughter, Jennie (Dave) Wicklman.
She is grieved by her living children, three sons, Randy (Cheryl) Lucash, Daniel (Debra) Lucash, and Patric (Judy) Lucash, one daughter, Julie (Kevin) Zeisset;
a dear sister-in-law, Peggy (formerly Kessler) Emery;
eight grandchildren, Stephanie Rheinhardt, Neill (Amy) Lucash, Eric Lucash, Mathew (Amanda) Lucash, Shelly (Matthew) Lipham, Rachael Wicklman, Joseph Lucash and Alyvia Lucash;
seven great-grandchildren, Chloe Rheinhardt, Caleb Rheinhardt, Noah Lipham, Aden Lipham, Brody Lucash, Ruby Lucash and Leif Lucash;and many caring nieces and nephews.
Visitation / Celebration of Life: Friends are asked to visit and share memories of this beautiful lady between 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2023, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Freeburg, IL. 206 S. Richland Street, Freeburg, IL.