Margaret M. Lukow

Surrounded by her loving family, Margaret Morrison Lukow, age 82, passed away on Monday, July 25, 2016, at University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. Margaret—known to many as Peg or Maggie—was born in Evanston, Illinois, on September 26, 1933, to Harry and Louise (née: Knobel) Morrison.

Maggie attended Purdue University, where she became a life loyal Alpha Chi and met the love of her life, Kenneth R. Lukow. They married in Wilmette, Illinois, on October 8, 1955, and moved to Racine in 1959. She completed her bachelor’s degree in art and women’s studies at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 1991.

For decades, Maggie was an artist and devoted member of the Racine art community. In addition to working in painting, prints, and clay, she was a leader at Wustum Museum, where she helped spearhead the docent program and the museum’s first 10-year plan. In the 1980s, she helped Wustum Museum obtain professional accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, a certification completed by only a small percentage of U.S. museums. Maggie also moved into one of the first 16th St. Studios at the Racine Business Center, served as a Racine Art Museum board member, helped establish the Starving Artists Fair, and was a charter member of the Racine Artists Gallery when it was founded in 1998.

In return for her dedication, the community honored Maggie several times. She received the Racine Arts Council’s 1987 Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts, the YWCA of Racine Woman of Distinction Award for Fine Arts in 1999, and an inaugural RAMMY award for volunteer service to the Racine Art Museum in 2009.

A lover of crosswords, chocolate cheesecake, and jazz, Maggie was a Girl Scout leader, a patron of regional theater, and an active member of Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church for more than 50 years. A Frank Lloyd Wright fan, Maggie and Ken’s home—built in 1967 and one of only two homes in Racine designed by La Verne Lantz—was recently featured on the 2016 Wright & Like tour.

Above all, Maggie treasured her family. If you know Maggie, you have already heard how proud she was of her grandchildren. Her creativity, sense of humor, funky jewelry, and delicious baking will be dearly missed.

Left to comfort one another with Maggie’s memory are her husband of 60 years, Ken; her children, Mark (Luanne Frey) Lukow of Racine and Heidi Anne Lukow and Kathryn Louise Lukow of Tucson, Arizona; her grandchildren, Meredith and Nathan Lukow; her siblings, Joanne McPhee, Thomas (Judy) Morrison, James (Gerry) Morrison, Jean Cathcart; a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives; and too many friends to mention. She was preceded in death by her parents; her baby brother, Charles Morrison; and sister-in-law, Marion Lehuta.

A memorial service will be held at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, 625 College Ave., Racine, on Sunday, September 25, at 3:00 p.m. with a visitation at 2:00 p.m. and a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Maggie’s memory to the Racine Art Museum, the UW-Parkside departments of visual or performing arts (University of Wisconsin-Parkside Foundation, 900 Wood Rd., Kenosha, WI 53141 or donate.uwp.edu/give), or another charity of your choice.

The family would like to thank the staff of the TLC unit at University Hospital for their supportive attention to Maggie’s end-of-life wishes.