09/25/2026
Sad news this morning …
Chesterton resident Frances E. Lukmann-Bergum passes
Frances E. Lukmann-Bergum of Chesterton, Ind., passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Thursday night, Sept. 24, 2026.
She was born on Dec. 27, 1930.
Frances is survived by her son, L. Charles Lukmann III of Chesterton; her daughter, Beth E. Lukmann-LeBlanc of Chesterton; grandson, Jeremy A. Lukmann (Kristen) of Porter, Ind.; granddaughters, Kelly E. McNamara of Chesterton, Maggie Bergum-Padilla of Highland, Ind., and Jody Peredo of Homewood, Ill.; great-grandsons, Jacob J. Boldi, William McNamara, and Jeremy “Axel” Lukmann II; nephews, Robert Fouts and Ronald Fouts; and nieces, Alison Haggerty, Beverly Gibbs, and Janie Fouts.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Ruby Smith; daughter, Lynn F. Lukmann; and husbands, Lester Charles (“Bud”) Lukmann Jr. and Axel Bergum.
For more than 80 years Frances lived in Griffith, Ind., before moving to Chesterton 15 years ago to be close to family, friends, and her wonderful neighbors. As her children grew older, she was determined to return to school and fulfill her lifelong dream of being a registered nurse, and in fact she was the first in her family to earn a college degree, in 1975, beating her son by two days! Frances then embarked on a nursing career of over 35 years with the Methodist hospital in Gary, and later Crown Point, where she brought life into this world in the Maternity Ward before training nurses in the use of new software.
What Frances cherished most was her family and friends. Those who knew her, knew full well she could hold a conversation for hours. She was an avid Notre Dame football fan, never missing a game on TV after it became too difficult for her to attend personally and then armchair quarterbacking the game with her family afterwards. Frances enjoyed anything involving family, especially family vacations, and delighted in trips to Hawaii, Yellowstone National Park and, for many years, her son’s vacation home in Florida. Her family often joked that she would eat her way through Florida or anywhere else on vacation.
Frances loved many things, but nothing more than time spent with her family. She was instrumental in raising three generations of her family and every child (and adult) always insisted that she host their birthday party. In her later years, she was utterly devoted to her three great-grandchildren, Jacob, William and Axel, who loved nothing more than spending time at “Grammy’s” house. She loved everyone and was loved in return by everyone who came into her life. She will be missed.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at the funeral home with Father Jerry Schweitzer officiating. Private burial will take place at a later date at Chesterton Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family via the funeral home website at www.ee-fh.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Ill.
