Alta Jane Lucas, 77, of Chanute passed away on Tuesday, February 28,
2023, at Heritage Healthcare in Chanute. Alta was born on March 25,
1945, in Pittsburg, Kansas, the daughter of Albert and Marcetta (Dunfee)
Grosstephan.
Alta grew up in Pittsburg and Kansas City, Kansas,
and graduated from Washington High School in Kansas City in 1963. On
September 17, 1966, Alta married the love of her life, Michael E Lucas.
Alta and Michael were married for 32 years until Michael’s passing on
October 28, 1998.
Children were very important to Alta; she was
often referred to as Saint Alta due to her raising her own children and
many other children in the Kansas City area through her daycare. She was
also the go-to for parents in the neighborhood when it came to any sort
of school emergency; they would call her and Alta was always willing to
help in any way that she could.
Before her eyesight failed her,
Alta loved to crochet and was a bit of a bookworm. Sports were also a
big part of Alta’s life; the Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and
Kansas City Royals were her teams. When she wasn’t busy watching sports
on television, Alta made sure she was cheering on her grandchildren and
all of the other children at their multiple activities. Alta was often
referred to by her grandkids friends as grandma. Alta enjoyed
interacting with all of the grandchildren’s activities and was a voice
that was easily recognized.
Alta will always be remembered as a loving, kind-hearted woman and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Alta is survived by her three children: Lisa Robertson and her husband
Patrick of Sachse, TX, Mike Lucas and his wife Kathy of Chanute, KS, and
Jeff Lucas and his wife Vanessa of Junction City, KS, two sisters: Joni
Watts of Kansas City, KS and Annette Grosstephan of Mulberry, KS, and
six grandchildren: Michaela Lucas and her fiancé Rocky Hawthorne, Tyson
Lucas, Oliver Lucas, Lauren Lucas, Evan Lucas, and Sam Lucas.
Alta was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Michael, and her brothers Alex and Jim.
Cremation has been requested and a family and friends graveside service
will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be left at: www.countrysidefh.com. S
ervices entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home 101 N. Highland, Chanute, Kansas 66720.