Les Lutze

    Leslie James Lutze, 95, died peacefully at his home on June 5, 2018. He was born Feb. 12, 1923, on the Lutze Pleasant Valley homestead to Frederick Wilhelm and Anna Tomlin Lutze. At the age of 4, he and his family moved to Holyoke. Les had eight siblings: Edward, Paul, Lois, Geraldine, Mary and Florine, all deceased, and Carol and Fred surviving him.
    Les attended Holyoke Grade School and graduated from Phillips County High School in 1941. In March of 1943, he volunteered for the United States Marine Corps. He received intensive training in demolitions and flame throwing at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, and joined the 4th Marine Division Engineering Unit. From January to July of 1944, he fought in two major amphibious assaults — the battles of Kwajalein (Roi-Namur) and Saipan. He sustained serious grenade injuries on Saipan and spent several months recuperating in a military hospital in Hawaii. He later received the Purple Heart medal, the most recognized symbol of combat injury and the sacrifice of personal safety.
    In March of 1945, he rejoined his outfit in time to make the landing with the first wave of Marines on the island of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific. Having never completely recovered from his injuries on Saipan, he was again hospitalized for several months until his honorable discharge on Thanksgiving Day 1945. After returning from the war, he worked in construction for his uncle, Walter Lutze.
    In 1946, Les was confirmed and became a member of Zion Lutheran Church; he sang in the choir and sang solos for several funerals. On Jan. 19, 1947, he married Genevieve Irene Welper, daughter of Herbert and Meta Leben Welper.
    They made their home on Reynolds Avenue in Holyoke, where Les moved a farmhouse into town. He completely rebuilt the interior and finished the exterior to make a comfortable home where the family grew with four children — Diane, Alan, Joan and Jill. Fifteen years later, Les and Genevieve bought the Ralston house next door, one of the town’s original homes and the residence of several former doctors of Holyoke. They lived in this home the rest of their lives.
    Early in their marriage, Les owned a concrete business known as the Lutze Termites. In 1960, he sold the business to Leben and Kramer. He then began working for Sturgis Mfg. in Haxtun. In 1963, he was employed by the electrical department of the City of Holyoke, and in 1972 was appointed city superintendent. He was a man of vision for keeping Holyoke “The Pride of the Plains.”
    Along with the many duties of his position, he and the City crew continued the paving of all gravel streets and alleyways; rebuilt the storm sewer, laying nearly 8 miles of storm sewer pipe; and installed irrigation for the cemetery, City Park, library and ball diamonds. He worked tirelessly to increase wages for the City employees. In 1985, he retired along with Genevieve, who had worked 25 years as county deputy assessor.
    Les was a Holyoke volunteer firefighter for 27 years and twice served as fire chief. He participated in annual volunteer firefighter competitions held throughout the state of Colorado, often winning the ladder climbing race. He was active in softball and bowling leagues and was an avid golfer, competing and placing in many golf tournaments. Les was instrumental in the reconstruction of the Holyoke Municipal Golf Course from sand to grass greens and the installation of grass fairways and irrigation.
    After his retirement, he spent several busy years volunteering for the Phillips County Museum, where he built display cases and helped make possible the relocation of the one-room schoolhouse and gas station to the museum site. Refurbishing antique cars was one of his passions, and he donated several of his cars to the Phillips County Museum. He and Genevieve traveled to south Texas each winter, where Les enjoyed playing golf.
    Les is survived by his daughters and their spouses, Diane Lutze, Joan and Kirk Dietrich, and Jill and Gary Herr; daughter-in-law, Sharon Hessman Lutze; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
    He was preceded in death by his son, Alan James in 2004; and his wife, Genevieve in 2012.
    The memorial service for Les will be held Saturday, June 16, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke, with Pastor Gary Rahe officiating. Interment will be at the Amherst cemetery.
    Memorial donations may be made to the Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department or the American Legion Education Fund of Holyoke.