Roger Dean Lutz

Roger Dean Lutz greeted his Lord and Savior early in the morning on September 3, 2023. Born in Topeka, Kansas on January 21, 1953, he was baptized at Hope Lutheran Church in Topeka. At the age of ten, Roger moved with his family from the Berryton home farm to El Segundo, California. He was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, El Segundo, and graduated from Los Angeles Lutheran High School in 1971. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Concordia College, Seward, Nebraska, in 1975. That summer, Roger and Holly Krutz were married at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.

Roger began a thirty-five year teaching career at Green Park Lutheran School near St. Louis, Missouri, where he coached soccer, sang in the choir, and served as Sunday School Superintendent at Peace Lutheran Church. After they moved to Wausau, Wisconsin, Roger taught at Evergreen Elementary in Kronenwetter for thirty years, until retiring in 2011. He continued his involvement in Christian education, teaching confirmation and Sunday school classes at Mount Olive Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church & School. He sang in the choir and served as an elder. He loved his family faithfully and modeled steadfastness in Christ. During summers and after retirement, he enjoyed driving Holly on her work trips in a series of beloved VWs. A teacher to the end, Roger participated in several clinical studies as part of the excellent care he received for lymphoma. He trusted firmly in God’s promises, and often reminded his family “It is in God’s hands”.

Roger is survived by his wife, Holly; four children, Timothy (Sarah) Lutz of Green Bay; Katherine (Paul) Hein and their children, Silas and Sabine, of Milwaukee; Anna (Wangjie) Lian and their daughter, Willa, of Kenosha; and Elizabeth Lutz of Wausau; brothers Donald (Jeanie); Alan (Nina); sister Karen Lona; sister-in-law Bonnie Ruehs-Lutz; brothers-in-law Jamie (Jennifer Thomas) Krutz; Jeff (Cathy) Krutz; Jonathan (Kimiko) Krutz; Jim (Rose Beck) Krutz and father-in-law, Charles Krutz. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Mabel (Phelps) Lutz; brother Marvin; mother-in-law, Mel Krutz; and brother-in-law, Jack Lona. He is further survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.   

A farewell service of praise and thanksgiving will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stewart & Fifth Ave, Wausau, WI, preceded by visitation at 10:00 a.m. Soli Deo Gloria.