Luttman, Merlyn 1919-2011

LUTTMAN, HINK, SIMMONS, JONES, DAVENPORT, GRAFF, AHRENS, SCHMIDT, LARSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 11/16/2013 at 08:06:39

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
June 23, 2011

MERLYN LUTTMAN

Merlyn Luttman, 91, of Grinnell died June 17, 2011, at his home.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell with Pastor Kathryn Roys officiating. Pianist will be Kathleen McCune and vocalists Larry and Julie Jones. Pallbearers will be Tom Eaton, Chad and George Hafkey, Andrew Henderson, Les Iverson, Keith Osland, Colton and Mark Otto and Gene Story. Honorary bearers will be Bob Fuerst, Al Graff, Denny and Tom Harris, Earl Heishman, Paul Jones, John Peak, Terry Schmidt, Duane and Jerry Simmons, Russ Stoker and Bob Vogt. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday evening.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church or Iowa Commission for the Blind.

Merlyn was born on September 30, 1919, at his family home, in Chester Township, near Grinnell. He was the youngest son of five children born to Henry and Clara Hink Luttman. He attended the country school on the Luttman farm and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1939.

Merlyn grew up playing and working on the homestead. In his farming career he raised steers, making numerous trips to the Chicago Stockyard. He also loved working the ground, raising corn, oats and then soybeans. He enjoyed not only playing softball, but also listening and watching the Chicago Cubs, becoming a faithful fan with his dad and brothers. He never saw a live Cubs game until he was 88 years old, when the Sears family made that possible, also visiting the old Chicago Stockyard archway on that trip.

Favorite entertainment with family and friends were pitching horse shoes, and playing cards, dominoes and croquet. He also enjoyed cooking and picking his blackberries for ice cream topping. After Delmar and Merlyn built the farm pond in 1946, they spent a lot of time fishing and hunting.

Not a day went by that he did not remember his days spent in WW II with a United States Army anti-aircraft battalion. He was stationed on the following islands during his tour in the South Pacific, Ne Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Russell, New Georgia; Bougalnville, New Britain, Marcus, Llagan and the Philippines. Those 3 years and 3 months were the longest period he ever spent off the farm.

He grew up in the Trinity Lutheran Church and then became a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell.

If you asked Merlyn what his favorite memory was, he'd tell you about his 90th birthday party in his home where 115 guests attended.

Survivors include three nieces Lola Simmons of Malcom, Doris (Paul) Jones of Brooklyn, and Arlene Davenport of Grinnell; one nephew, Albert (Phyllis) Graff of Mesa, Arizona, several great nieces and nephews, his adopted family and several close, loyal friend. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Delmar and Lester; two sisters, Alma Graff and Wilma Ahrens; three nieces, Marilyn Schmidt, Delores Larson, and Lorraine Graff; and one nephew, Claire Simmons.