Ruth A. (Schmitz) Lutze
Ruth A. (Schmitz) Lutze, 83, of Oakfield, died Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at St. Agnes Hospital. She was born to William and Ruth (Schaus) Schmitz in Manitowoc on December 12, 1941. Ruth graduated from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc in 1960 and attended Stout and WSU-Stevens Point, receiving a BS cum laude degree in Home Economics Education with a minor in English, 1964.
She married her high school and college best friend, Glenn Lutze on June 25, 1966. She taught twelve months Home Economics and led FHA 2 years at Luxemburg High School and taught in Clinton, WI. They moved to Fond du Lac and later Oakfield to raise their 4 children. As the children grew up, Ruth taught adult sewing and cooking classes at MPTC until the youngest child started first grade. Her father (Bill Schmitz) also joined them at their home a few years.
Ruth enjoyed sewing clothes, quilting, cooking, and baking, teaching Sunday school and VBS, 4-H project leadership for 15 years at Busy Oaks 4-H, Lutheran Pioneers leadership, FDL County Graduate Home Economists Group, Fond du Lac Retired Educators, Flying Geese Quilters, CSI, and the Senior Center’s German Club, painting classes, and Memories Writing Group over the years.
She taught part-time Family and Consumer Education in the Fond du Lac School System until she and Glenn retired in 2001. After retiring, she and Glenn enjoyed time with grandchildren, family, and friends, travel, church, gardening and hobbies, entertaining, and genealogy research. She placed God first in her life and felt God was very good to her in her church memberships at St. Paul’s, St. Luke’s, and Hope Lutheran Churches.
She is survived by her husband, Glenn; her children, Kristin (Steve) Hinze of Oakfield, Kimberlie Floyd of Eden Prairie, MN, Brian Lutze of Fond du Lac, and Kathryn (Guy) Bodie of Buckeye, AZ; grandchildren, Robby (Rachel) Hinze, Stephanie (Aaron) Slayton, Corrie (Liz) Floyd, Tony (Kimberly) Floyd, Collin Lutze, Karma (fiance, Ryan) Kocos, Kaden Kocos, and Karisma (Eric) Chavet; great grandchildren, Lyla, Henley, and Crosby Floyd, Averie, Griffin, and Gannon Hinze, Steven and Gatlin Slayton, Ava and Nola Floyd, Jonah and Oliver Chavet. She is futher survived by her sister, Mary Lou (Mike) Lane; sister-in-law, Diane (Eugene) Reichwaldt; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law, Emil Lutze; mother-in-law, Adeline (Luebke) Lutze; and daughter-in-law, Heather Lutze.
The visitation will be held Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Hope Lutheran Church, 260 Vincent Street in Fond du Lac. The memorial service will follow at 12:00 PM on Wednesday at church with Rev. Dr. Phillip M. Enderle officiating. Private family burial will be held in Avoca Cemetery, Oakfield at a later date.
Memorials are appreciated to Hope Lutheran Church in Ruth’s name.
Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com