Thomas R. "Tom" Lutz

Thomas Robert Lutz, age 69, of Hastings MN, died November 15,2023, from multiple complications stemming from cancer.

He was born on April 5, 1954 in Akron Ohio to Mary Jean Motz and Robert Edwin Lutz, on the same day and in the same hospital as his cousin, Jim, his “twin” cousin. In 1957 he moved with his family to Boulder, Colorado, where he grew up surrounded by other young families with kids. In high school he excelled in football, participated in teenage antics with his friends, and wrote poetry. He graduated from Colorado College in Colorado Springs with a degree in psychology, and moved to Minnesota. He completed his Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and went on to work with many different agencies over the course of his career, including the State of Minnesota and Ramsey County Corrections. His expertise was in working with families, couples, and youth, particularly young men. He spent a large part of his career working in corrections with young male offenders. He finished his career by starting a private practice clinic in Hastings—Tom Lutz and Associates, which he ran for approximately 12 years before retiring in 2022. Tom provided guidance to many, many people. He was able to make instant connections, especially with children and adolescents. He spent a decade serving as Scout Master to Cub and Boy Scout troops, and helped guide many adolescent boys in achieving the rank of Eagle, including his two sons.

Tom was an avid camper and loved going to the Boundary Waters, which he did at least once every summer for 40 years. He hiked in all 72 state parks over the course of the summer in 2021, something he was very proud of. He loved bird watching, poetry, smoking cigars, watching movies, and listening to music. He loved to travel and spearheaded many family road trips across the country, in addition to traveling as far south as Machu Pichu in Peru and as far north as Hudson Bay to see polar bears.

He was interested in politics and what was happening at the state capital. He loved to engage in conversation and was outspoken about his positions on the important issues of the day. He was a jokester and loved to have fun and laugh. He had a beautiful voice and would turn heads when he would spontaneously burst into song. He loved being around and talking to people and was an avid state fair goer, along with his wife and sons. He celebrated every birthday with a circle of men, reading poetry and smoking cigars. He was a founding and fiercely dedicated member of his Men’s Group which has met regularly since the early 1980s.

Tom is survived by his wife of 42 years, Karen Ward; his sons, John (Caroline), and William; his sister, Laura (Mel); and his niece and nephew, Jenna and Bobby; plus, an extraordinarily large number of friends. He was preceded in death by both his parents; and his aunt, Dr. Gwen Scott, with whom he had an especially close relationship.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Starkson Family Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion Street, Hastings.