Donald Lutze

On October 12, 2016 in Littleton, CO, at the age of 89, Donald Louis Lutze died peacefully with his beloved wife of 60 years, holding his hand. Don is survived by his wife Joan Randall Lutze, his sister Darlene Beneditz of St. Joseph, MI, and his three children and their spouses, Alan and Bretta Lutze of San Diego, CA; Jill and Scott Herbertson of Burbank, CA; and Mark and Heather Lutze of Parker, CO. Don also dearly loved his six grandchildren, Chris, Dave, Evan and Kyle Lutze, and Adam and Audrey Herbertson. Don was born on July 30, 1927 in Manitowoc County, WI, to Edwin and Henrietta Lutze and grew up on the family's dairy farm. He joined the Air Force after high school and served as a radar technician during the Berlin Airlift. He attended Michigan Tech on the GI Bill, graduating second in his class with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After moving to Los Angeles, Don worked for Hughes Aircraft, and later for Continental Device/Teledyne It was in Los Angeles that a work friend introduced Don to Joan Randall. After dating, dancing, dining and enjoying concerts together, Don and Joan married on September 29, 1956. The Lutze's lived in Gardena, CA until 1973, when Don took a job at Martin-Marietta in Littleton, CO. As an engineer, Don worked on many classified projects, but was especially proud to have worked on the Mars Viking Project. Don worked at Martin-Marietta until he retired in 1988. Don certainly had an analytical, organized side, but he was also a craftsman and artist. The Lutze garage and basement were typically bustling with projects. Don built model trains and airplanes with his kids, built a loom and tried weaving, needlepoint, cabinetry, copper enamel, and resin casting. Eventually Don found his way into bird carving, and began volunteering at Roxborough State Park and the Denver Natural History Museum in the bird collections, in order to better understand bird anatomy. The Lutze family cherishes the beautiful and stunningly realistic birds that Don has carved and given them. A funeral is scheduled for 10:30AM on Tues, October 18 at Zion Lutheran Church, 2600 S Wadsworth Blvd, Denver, CO 80227, with a graveside burial to follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Don's life. If desired you may make a donation to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (http://www.pdf.org/) in Don's Name. Condolences can be sent to: Horan & McConaty Funeral Services 3101 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80227.