Lawrence Lutwitzi

Lawrence Edward "Larry" Lutwitzi, age 90, of Waukesha, met his Savior on Wednesday Dec 3, 2014. Larry was born Nov. 4, 1924, in Milwaukee; to Walter and Ruth (Friedrich) Lutwitzi. During the Great Depression, Larry's family managed a small hotel on Okauchee Lake, near Stone Bank. Larry spent his time on the lake, in the woods, and in his mother's garden. Larry came to love gardening and the natural world, a passion which he shared with his daughter, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many others. Upon graduation from high school in 1942, Larry worked in the Great Lakes merchant marine. In 1943, Larry enlisted in the US Navy. He served aboard the submarine USS Finback in WWII, during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Finback was repeatedly attacked in the East China Sea; and returned to Pearl Harbor with a 61 foot crack in her pressure hull. Larry credited his mother's prayers for the ship's safe return. Larry used his GI Bill to get an education, and worked as a chemist for 20 years. He also had his own ceramics business. In later life, he was a handyman at Camp Chetek. He was always outdoors and working. Larry was predeceased by his wife, Francelia McAuliffe, and his ex-wife, Dorothy Trushinske; as well as his parents and his sister, Edith Coker. He is survived by his daughter Eva (James) Bellinger, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; his sisters Janet Haselow of Corpus Christi TX, Helen (Floyd) Miller, of Evant, TX; his sister Ruth (Peter) Schlicher of Watertown; nine nieces and six nephews. His friends from the Submariners' group, from Grace Baptist Church, and others will also miss him. A memorial service with military honors will be held Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Schuetze Recreation Center, 1120 E. Baxter St, Waukesha; with Pastor Douglas Richards of Grace Baptist Church officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 3 pm, and service at 3 pm. Special thanks to the nursing staffs at Waukesha Memorial Hospital and Rainbow Hospice Center in Johnson Creek.

Visitation

Sunday, December 7, 2014 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Schuetze Recreation Center
1120 E. Baxter Street Waukesha 53186, United States

Service

Sunday, December 7, 2014 3:00 PM
Schuetze Recreation Center
1120 E. Baxter Street Waukesha 53186, United States