#1 Obituary printed in June 14, 1923 Tribune, Blair, NE

J.E. Lutz Passed Away Last Night at Hospital

J. E. Lutz died at the Blair hospital Wednesday at 10 p.m. after a long illness. The funeral will be held at the home Saturday afternoon, Rev. W.H. Underwood officiating.

Mr. Lutz was born May 6, 1854, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and came to Blair in 1888, entering the monument business, in which business he was engaged at the time of his death.

For several months Mr. Lutz had been in failing health and about four weeks ago went to the Blair hospital for treatment, his ailment being diagnosed as cancer of the stomach.

He was active in civic affairs and had represented his ward on the city council on different occasions. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, having always taken an active part in the work and had represented the lodge at grand lodge sessions.

Besides a wife, he leaves two daughters and one son, as well as a host of friends to mourn his death.

#2 Obituary printed in June 14, 1923 Enterprise, Blair, NE

Death of Pioneer Business Man

The death of John E. Lutz, one of Blair’s pioneer business men, occurred last evening, June 13, at to o’clock at the Blair hospital where he had been receiving medical attention for a few weeks.

He has been in poor health for some time and from the nature of his ailment, cancer of the stomach, his death has been momentarily expected.

The deceased was born May 5, 1854 at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and came to Blair in 1888 establishing his business, the Lutz Monument Works.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon from the late home.

A complete obituary will be given next week.

#3 Obituary printed in the June 21, 1923 Tribune, Blair, NE

Laid to Rest in the Spot He Often Visited

The funeral of John E. Lutz, of whose death mention was made in these columns last week, was held from his late home on Saturday afternoon, and all that was mortal of this highly esteemed man was laid to rest in the family plot at the beautiful cemetery at Blair, where he had often paid visits, putting up monuments to mark the last resting place of so many that are taking their last sleep in the flower bedecked mounds. The funeral was largely attended, testifying to the lasting friends he had made during his long residence here.

John E. Lutz was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, May 5, 1854, and spend his young manhood in that state. He was married to Georgia Anna Miller of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, November 9, 1880. Two children were born to them, Daisy Irene, and Howard Edmond. They came to Nebraska, locating in Blair, and in 1888 he established a monument business in which business he was engaged at the time of his demise.

Mrs. Lutz passed away in 1890 and was buried in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, cemetery.

February 15, 1893, Mr. Lutz was united in marriage to Mary A. Campbell at Marengo, Iowa. To them were born three children: Georgia Frances, Frank S. and Margaret Ann.

Mr. Lutz was a member of the Methodist church from boyhood, taking an active part in the affairs of the organization, and served for several years as one if its trustees. He was one of a few men whose interest in the work brought about the establishment of a Y.M.C.A. in Blair, and his efforts caused it to be kept alive for many years. When the organization disbanded, his disappointment was keen and he never ceased to regret its failure to exist, and counted some of the prominent workers as his close friends. He was ever active in civic affairs, was for years a member of the city council, and library board, and took a great interest in politics, both local and national. He was honored as a delegate to the Chicago convention in 1920 in which General Wood’s name was prominently mentioned for president of the United States, and was an ardent supporter of that candidate. In his earlier years he was much given to outdoor life, and enjoyed hunting for a pastime; he was a great traveler, loving the beauties of nature, and was decidedly artistic in temperament, as was evidenced by his handiwork wrought in marble. Mr. Lutz was a man who regarded his friendships as sacred and was loyal to his friends to the close of his life. When in health he was of a jovial nature and enjoyed the comedy of life, even though his business was along more serious lines. He remembered what he read, and had the rare faculty of imparting these things in an interesting manner. He liked to work anything out of the raw material, and a number of years ago homesteaded land in South Dakota, which he improved and beautified.

But his work is over; he has finished the course, and has gone to his eternal reward.

Surviving him are his widow, two daughters, Daisy –Mrs. L. B. Morse, of New York City; Margaret—Mrs. Lyle Noyes of this city, and one son, Frank S. Lutz of Herrick, So. Dak.

His elder son, Howard, was accidentally killed in South Dakota, September 31, 1916.,(sic—the tombstone for Howard shows 1906), and his daughter, Georgia—Mrs. Wm. Gutschow, died among the first victims of the influenza epidemic a few years ago, leaving a little son, Bill John, who Mr. and Mrs. Lutz took into their own home and tenderly cared for.

Besides this grandson there are three others, Herbert, John and Richard Morse, and an only granddaughter, Georgia Frances Mary Lutz, only child of Frank Lutz; two sisters, Mrs. J.J. Wayte of Springdale, Ark., and Mrs. J.H. Smith of Grinnelle, Iowa, and a host of friends to mourn the death of a true husband, a loving and indulgent father and faithful brother and friend.

His works live after him.

#4 June 20, 1923 Pilot, Blair, NE

The family circle was again broken during the epidemic of influenza during the World War, when his daughter, Georgia, Mrs. Wm. Gutschow, died, leaving a little son, Billy John, only three months old. This grandson Mr. and Mrs. Lutz took to their home and hearts and treated him as their own son.

His daughter, Daisy Irene, was married to Leighton B. Morse at Grinnell, Ia. June 30th, 1907, and their home is now in New York City, where Mr. Morse is an instructor at Columbia University. They have three children, Herbert, John and Richard.

There is one other grandchild, Georgia Frances May, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lutz. Mr. Lutz leaves two sisters, Mrs. J.J. Wawte, of Springdale, Ark. and Mrs. J.H. Smith, of Grinnell, Ia.

~~~ Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska library.~~~

Find a Grave Memorial # 25342118