Mike De Lucas

Age 82 of Custer Park, Illinois died Friday, July 22, 2022 at his home.

Born August 9, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois, Michael Paul was a son of Paul and Sophie (Migliore) De Lucas. He was raised in Chicago and began working construction as a teenager. Mike worked his entire life as a carpenter and retired as a member of Carpenter’s Local Union 54 in Bridgeview.

Besides carpentry, he spent 28 years as a steer wrestler and participated in the International Rodeo Association and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Mike won his last buckle at the age of 70 and competed in Team Roping until the age of 77. He also scuba dived for 15 years; was a member of the Grand Prairie United Methodist Church in Herscher, Illinois, and belonged to the Will County Trail Riders.

Mike had a life-long love of horses, and his first job at the age of nine was a stable boy in Chicago. He will be remembered as always building and working on a project, and was extremely proud of his home and farm in Custer Park, which he built with his own hands. Outside of home and work, Mike in addition volunteered at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, as a handyman.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia “Trish” De Lucas, whom he married July 12, 1980 at the Marley Community Church in Marley, Illinois; three children: Sally (Rob) Cronholm of Lockport, Illinois, Michael Paul, Jr. (Pam) De Lucas of North Carolina, and Colette “Jodi” (Doug) Rigoni of Lockport, Illinois; three step-children: Bret (Julie) Andrysiak of Allegan, Michigan, Wendy Andrysiak of Carbon Hill, Illinois, and Dawn (Rob) Borowski of Zeeland, Michigan; fourteen grandchildren: Ryan (Jen) Cronholm, Rachel (Jeff) Turner, Regan (Zach) Devore,  Roberta (Kevin) Kozubowski, Joni De Lucas, Anthony  De Lucas (Liz Rath), Sally, Giavanna, and Rocco Rigoni, Sarah (Jordan) Koenig, Anna (Christian) Keene, Shane Borowski, Holly Johnson and C.J. Johnson; thirteen great grandchildren; two brothers: Paul (the late Geri) De Lucas of Selma, Alabama and Robert (Pam) De Lucas of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; one brother-in-law, Michael Gordon Maxson of California, and several nieces and nephews.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents.

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road, in Wilmington from 10:00 a.m. until funeral services at 12:00 p.m.

Those wishing to participate in Mike’s services virtually are invited to join the live stream service beginning at 12:00 p.m. A link for the event can be found on Mike’s memorial page.

Per his wishes, cremation rites will be accorded following funeral services, and he will be laid to rest in the Florida Keys.

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guest book, upload photographs, and share Mike’s memorial page via social media.

Funeral services and cremation arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington (815-476-2181)  www.BaskervilleFuneral.com