Thomas "Tommy" Lukanen II

Thomas “Tommy” Jacob Lukanen ll, 52, of Backus Minnesota passed away peacefully July 5, 2026, at North Ridge Health and Rehab Center.

Born in New Prague, Minnesota on March 29, 1974. Tommy graduated from Pine River-Backus High School in 1992. He made Backus his home with his wife Kristy and their three sons. Tommy was an avid outdoors man. You would find him out scouting for his next hunting spot or fishing. Tommy worked most of his life as the Head Meat Cutter at the Backus Meat Locker until he found his real calling, his passion to guide people on how to hunt and fish. Tommy had a love for the outdoors and spent his time in the woods or on the water. When he wasn’t hunting, fishing or in the woods you would find him smoking something delicious for dinner or tinkering in the garage or around the house. Everyone that met Thomas knew how he was on the go unless it was football season, he wouldn’t miss a Vikings game. He also would spend his evenings watching UFC. Tommy was always willing to lend a hand. He loved spending time with his family; especially the yearly camping trips with his parents, brothers, wife, sons, nieces, and nephews. Tommy will be missed from his wonderful cooking, to driving around for hours in the woods. He will forever be in our hearts and through the memories made with him.

Tommy is survived by his wife Kristy; sons, Thomas lll, Jordan (Gabrielle), and Marcus; grandsons, Samuel Johnson and Colton and Bodie Lukanen; mother, Bonnie L’Allier; mother and father in law, Bruce and Helen Digiovanni; second parents David and Janice Schmid; siblings, Keith, Eric (Jolene), Sven (Kelly), Tanya (Brandon), David, Brian (Kayla), David Jr. (Becky), and John; as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was proceeded in death by his grandparents, Sylvester and Virgie (Radanke) Mager; father, Thomas Lukanen l; aunt, Benedith (Bean) Mager; steps fathers, Steven Deszamp and Ronald L’Allier; and grandson Ryder Lukanen.

A funeral service will be held at 12 pm on Saturday July 25, 2026, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Backus, Minnesota. A visitation will be held from 10-12 pm prior to the service. His final resting place will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Backus. Please help us celebrate Tommy by wearing hunting or fishing clothes: camo, muck boots (which Tommy almost always had on) or casual clothing.

The service will be live-streamed on the church’s Facebook and Thomas’ Facebook, to watch please select one of the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EfiA1TRPs/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

https://www.facebook.com/share/14hAFYqt4PH/?mibextid=wwXIfr