Lucas Gajewski always knew that he would work in funeral service. In fact, at the young age of 10 he was so moved by the public funeral services shown for President Ronald Reagan that he penned a sympathy card to Mrs. Reagan. So those who know Lucas well are not surprised by his career path. Now serving as the executive director of Ascend Funeral Home, he is living out his life’s mission.

Anyone who meets Lucas will quickly see that he was in fact made for this work. Lucas brings genuine compassion and care to everyone he meets. He looks to provide support and ease any burden he can. It starts with service, he says.

That is the reason Ascend was created, to provide a service to the community- fostering healing and growth that the community needs to navigate loss.

“Community is at the heart and soul of all of our decision making,” Lucas says.

Lucas and the board of directors wanted a place in their community where the team could partner with families on their journey through grief while also providing compassionate treatment, and fair and honest pricing.

Lucas is a licensed funeral director, having graduated from Worsham College with a degree in Mortuary Science. He has experience in all areas of funeral service and care. He also has a vast array of leadership experience, serving in the industry and in his community. Lucas has been recognized for his efforts in many ways, notably the Jack Adams Dodge Award and the American Institute of Embalmers award reflecting on his practical skills and scientific knowledge as well as the Karlton A. Koball Award; an achievement selected by his peers for his outstanding professionalism. But he says his greatest skill is his ability to take care of families.

“It starts with the heart,” he says. “That’s what keeps you going, having a heart for what others are going through.”

 

Lucas experienced a lot of loss early in his life. Before the age of 10, he had lost significant loved ones, so the idea of death was never a taboo subject. Coupled with his parents’ example of serving others, Lucas began his life’s work.

Now at Ascend, Lucas has built a team with shared values and a common goal of serving the community with compassionate funeral care.

“We want to meet people where they are at and ask them to allow us to take care of them like family. I hope that takes away some of the sting of their grief,” says Lucas.

Lucas and his team do that by creating an environment that is positive and open, so everyone feels the ability to do what they need to care for families.

Each member of the team has specific skills that help to make that work. For Lucas, he is often asked to share his musical gift at services. Prior to his work in funeral service Lucas performed in musical theater. He still shares his skills in his free time, serving as a mentor for the high school theater groups as well as when requested in the community.

Service to community has been and will always be at the heart of Lucas’ work.