Kathleen (Sheriff) LUTGEN

LUTGEN, SHERIFF, DEWITT, LUTGEN-DEWITT, LANDE, FOSTER, BERGO, MIDLANG, HUMBURG

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:03

July 24, 1926 ---- May 28, 2017

Kathleen (Katie) Lutgen, daughter of Elmer and Florence Sheriff, born in Belmond, Iowa on July 24, 1926, died May 28, 2017 at 90 years of age. Katie attended elementary and junior high school at Belmond and graduated from Sheffield High School in 1943 at the early age of sixteen. Katie participated in band, choir, and took part in high school class plays. After High School, Katie attended college at UNI at Cedar Falls for teaching and then taught in a country school for a short time.

In the fall of 1946 Kathleen married Robert Lutgen at the Methodist Church in Sheffield. They settled on a farm outside of Thornton where they lived for forty years. Katie and Bob raised three boys on the farm, Mark, Gary and Paul. Katie worked as a nursing assistant for Oakwood Manor Nursing Home in Clear Lake and then for many years at Hospice of North Iowa in Mason City. She was an active member of Richland Lutheran Church and the Thornton Women’s Club.

Katie brightened the day for everyone she met. Her hospitality, sense of humor and care for others defined her personality. She was a great cook and liked nothing more than to prepare a meal for a houseful of guests. She gave generously and always put others first. She planted flowers in the spring, made lemonade in the summer and washed muddy football clothes in the fall. Katie lived for her family and cherished time spent when everyone was together. She liked to tell stories, share laughter, enjoyed playing cards, travelling to visit others, and loved music.

She had a special place in her heart for her children and grandchildren. While spending time with the kids was dear to her, she loved her husband and the two of them had many adventures together. A favorite was going to the dance at Clear Lake with their friends on Saturday nights.
Words cannot express how much we will miss her.

Kathleen is survived her son Mark and wife Sherry of Jeffersonville, Indiana; son Gary and wife Chris of Stanley, Iowa; son Paul and wife Tobi of Pella, Iowa; six grandsons; Wade, Dustin, Courtney, Nathan, Cody, and Tristan Lutgen; two granddaughters; Dr. Amy Lutgen-Dewitt and Jessica Lande; eleven great grandchildren; Kylee, Nashua, Tylar, Lawson, Parker, Addison, Makinley, and Aurora Lutgen; and Brielle, Kendall and Maddox Dewitt; and brother Larry and wife Nancy Sheriff of Sheffield, and many nieces and nephews. Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents; brothers James and Lynn Sheriff; sisters-in-law, Marlene Sheriff, Helen Foster, Lois Bergo, and RoseAnn Midlang; and brothers-in-law, Palmer Bergo, Vern Humburg, and Norris Midlang; and Nephew, Jason Sheriff.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 1st at 2:00 p.m. at Retz Funeral Home in Sheffield, Iowa, with visitation following the service.