Harold Ray Lutz

September 3, 1927 - November 23, 2020

Harold Ray Lutz, 93 of Cheyenne passed away peacefully November 23, 2020 at Davis Hospice Center with Nancy, his wife of 51 years, by his side. Born September 3, 1927 in Boulder, Colorado, Harold was the second son of Maude Mercy (Tyson) and William Evan Lutz. His older brother, Gilbert, age 16 died of polio in 1936. The family moved to Crook, Colorado where Harold attended school until his high school graduation in 1945. While in high school, Harold played both basketball and football and was a member of the Crook Marching Band. Following graduation, Harold enlisted in the U. S. Army which became the U. S. Army Air Corp and later the U. S. Air Force. During his proud tenure in the military, Harold served as a Communications Teletype Operator at Alamogordo Air Force Proving Grounds, New Mexico. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and the American Theater Ribbon. Upon his return home from military duty, Harold married Maribelle Stunkard. She preceded him in death November 24, 1966. Three children were born of this union, all of whom survive Harold: Diane Kay Springer (Bill) of Cheyenne, Glen Ray Lutz (Jenifer) of Pasadena, California and Brenda Lee Latta (Craig) of Port Charlotte, Florida. Harold received a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Agriculture from Colorado Aggies (now Colorado State University) in 1954 and earned a Master’s Degree in Vocational Administration and Supervision in 1969 at Colorado State University. He was most proud of the fact he was honored to be only the 2nd Ag teacher in a program started in 1917 with the Hughes Act, a position he held for nine years in Olathe, Colorado. Harold had interest in all farm and agricultural areas. His students (his Ag boys as he called them) won many ribbons and awards in many areas. Harold was a member of Alpha Tau Alpha, the Honorary Ag Ed Fraternity. Harold also taught Vocational Ag in Cortez, Colorado and Heavy Equipment Mechanics at Trinidad Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado. He managed the Delta Colorado Potato Growers. After a whirlwind romance of two months, Harold married Nancy (Baldwin) Howe August 23, 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This union brought three more children to Harold’s family all of whom survive him: Cynthia Kay Howe Butler (Lee) of Sheridan, Wyoming, Shelly Elizabeth Howe Erickson (Ron) and Russell F. Howe (Tawn), both of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Harold is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Family was most important to Harold. He was always so proud of all of his children and grandchildren and their accomplishments, and was ready to tell anyone who would listen about each of them and their accomplishments. He was so proud to have them be self-sufficient, good at their jobs and loving, caring and giving individuals. Moving to Cheyenne in 1969 with his new family of eight, Harold accepted a position as State Director of Manpower with the Wyoming State Department of Education, a position he held for three years before resigning in order to spend more time with his family. He and Nancy then formed two Corporations: Capitol City Construction and Capital City Excavating (union company). Harold was CEO and General Manager of both. He loved and thoroughly enjoyed the heavy equipment business from earth work for highway projects to digging many local basements and installations of thousands of septic systems in Laramie County. Harold and Nancy formed a third corporation, LUTZCO which manufactured and sold Weathergard covers for smaller machines. Harold envisioned and designed the Weathergard. He was always designing and making something. He designed a long-leg brace, which Scott Orthopedics manufactured for Nancy early in their marriage. He modified 4-wheelers, snowmobiles and motorcycles to make it possible for Nancy to participate in these activates. After the recession in the early 1980’s, Capitol City Excavating and Capitol City Construction were closed and Harold moved on to his next project of renovating the Antelope Truck Stop at Burns, Wyoming. It was purchased out of a bankruptcy and in two years, Harold had it making a nice profit and sold it to the Burns Coop. He retired. Not really. He began delivering meals for Meals on Wheels and shortly thereafter found himself on the Board of Directors and soon the President of the Board. During this period of time, Meals on Wheels moved from the Lutheran Church downtown to the South side of Cheyenne where he was instrumental in building and outfitting a whole new kitchen and office facility. Each time he returned to Cheyenne, he would visit Meals on Wheels and check the growth of the trees he had planted on the property. Once Nancy retired from Laramie County Community College in 1994, the couple sold their home “the family hotel” as Harold called it and hit the road with their RV. During the next five years, the couple traveled to all 49 Continental states and eventually ended up making Port Charlotte, Florida their home for the next 20 years. Even though retired twice, Harold still had to be busy. While traveling, the couple became vendors at RV shows all over the U.S. He loved to meet and talk to people wherever he went. Harold lived his life intently by the Ten Commandments. In his younger years, he sometimes lived on the edge, driving stock cars. He was in two airplane crashes, one military and one commercial. He loved boxing, loved all animals, especially horses and any kind of horse event, and of course dogs and cats of which he had many over the years. He enjoyed livestock showing (winning Show Champion and Grand Champion Hampshire Hog at the Denver National Western Stock in 1966), and livestock judging, game hunting, fast cars and most of all nature. His time in the mountains was most revered spring, summer, fall and winter. He was an avid reader, reading everything from Biographies to trade and business magazines. As Harold had so many interests and passions, he was always ready to take on a new challenge. Nancy jokingly often told him that he had “a short attention span”. Over the years, Harold belonged to many clubs and organizations and has maintained his membership in the American Legion and has been a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks for 55 years. In addition to his parents, brother, Gilbert and first wife, Maribelle, his sister Wilma Lutz Miller and brother, Wayne Lutz and one great granddaughter preceded him in death. Interment will be at the Cheyenne National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Cheyenne Meals on Wheels, or a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff at Davis Hospice for all the loving care given our beloved Harold.