WAYNE—Father Joseph L. Lutz died on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, while under hospice care at his son’s home here. He was 92.

 

Father was born on Jan. 14, 1928 in Elmira, N.Y., the son of Louis J. and Marion B. (Mathew) Lutz.

 

He graduated from Southside High School in 1946. He attended Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove. He married Dolores K. Sutter on Jan. 10, 1953. 

 

He was employed for 15 years by New York Telephone Company in Elmira, Corning, and Syracuse, N.Y., and for 21 years by Bell Telephone Laboratories (Lucent Technologies) working on operator systems as a technician, programmer and system analyst in New York City, 

Holmdel, N.J., and Naperville. 

 

After the death of his wife in 1980, Father Lutz retired from Bell Telephone Laboratories and began studies for the priesthood. He graduated from Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass., and was ordained a priest by Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford on June 27, 1987. 

 

During his priesthood he served as a parochial vicar at St. John Neumann Parish in St. Charles from 1987-1989, and at Holy Angels Parish in Aurora from 1989-1992. 

 

He served as pastor of St. Wendelin Parish in Shannon from 1992-1998 while also serving at St. Mary Parish in Freeport from 1992 until his retirement in 2002. 

 

Father Lutz was an associate priest for the Lay Apostolate Community of Madonna House based in Combermere, Ontario, Canada. 

 

He served on the Clergy Relief Society Board, served as chaplain for the St. Charles Knights of Columbus Council 12497 and Knights of Columbus Assembly 188. 

 

He retired from active ministry in 2002 and moved to St. Charles where he continued to assist at many local parishes.

 

Father Lutz was predeceased by his parents Louis and Marion, and his wife Dolores. 

 

He is survived by two sons, Gary (Deborah) Lutz of Virginia Beach, Va., and Edward (Marcia) Lutz of Wayne; five grandchildren: Christopher Lutz of Las Vegas, Nev.: Collin Lutz of Norfolk, Va.; Alexandra Bryan and her sons Isaac and Godric of Virginia Beach, Va.; Chelsey Lutz of Batavia; and Maxwell Lutz of Fort Collins, Colo.; one sister, Evelyn Lutz of Elmira, N.Y., and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

 

Father Lutz’s funeral Mass was Nov. 23 at St. John Neumann Parish in St. Charles and was livestreamed by the parish.

 

A post-COVID-19 memorial Mass and gathering will be held at a later date at St. John Neumann Parish. 

 

Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, N.Y. 

 

Memorials may be made to St. John Neumann Parish in St. Charles.

 

Funeral arrangements were completed by Yurs Funeral Home, Geneva.