Walter Joseph Lutkenhaus

Services for Walter Joseph Lutkenhaus, 76, of Lindsay are set for 10:00AM, Friday, August 12, 2022, at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church.  Burial will follow in Saint Peter’s Cemetery under the direction of Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home of Gainesville, TX.  Visitation begins at 6:00PM with a Rosary Service to begin at 7:00PM, Thursday, August 11, 2022 in the Chapel at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home, Gainesville, TX.

Walter was born November 14, 1945 in Muenster, Texas.  He was the oldest child of August J and Armella (Flusche) Lutkenhaus.  Walter grew up on a farm southwest of Muenster, and attended grade school at Sacred Heart Catholic School.  He graduated from Muenster High School in 1963.

On January 24, 1966, Walter was inducted into service with the United States Army in Dallas, TX.  He received basic training at Fort Polk, LA.  Walter served proudly with the Service Battery of the 1 ^st Battalion/40 ^th Field Artillery based out of Fort Sill, OK. He boarded the USS General LeRoy Eltinge for Da Nang, Vietnam and arrived in-country on October 18, 1966.  For the following year, Walter was based in Dong Ha, Vietnam and saw duties all along the DMZ.  For his service, he received the following honors…Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, O/S Bar (2) Vietnam, National Defense Service Medal RVCM w/Dev 60, Expert (Rifle), Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device.  Walter received an Honorable Discharge on January 23, 1968 at Fort Sil, OK.

Upon return from Vietnam, Walter married Kathleen Streng of Lindsay on April 20, 1968 at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church.  They began married life in a small home in Muenster, TX. During this time Walter returned to his job at Shamburger Lumber Company and helped his dad on the family farm while attending night classes at Cooke County Jr College.  Soon, Walter went to work at National Supply Co. (Armco Steel) and by October 1970 the family moved into a new home west of Lindsay, TX.  This is where their 4 children…Donna, Michael, Laura and George were raised.  In 2003, Walter and Kathleen built a new home on Pecan Street “inside” the Lindsay city limits.  This has been home base for Walter to watch his 6 grandchildren grow and learn from him.  “Doing things Papa’s way” will forever be a legacy he leaves with us all.

Walter was employed at National Supply Co for 19 years, working as a Receiving/Shipping Clerk and Inventory Specialist until the plant closed in 1988.  He worked various jobs for a short time and then became a Relief Route Carrier for the US Postal Service and a Truck Driver for Paul J and Gary Hess Trucking until his retirement in 2007.

Walter has always been active in his church, school, and community.  He took over the VFW flag route for Lindsay and began setting the military crosses in Saint Peter’s Cemetery in 1980 after helping his father-in-law with this since 1968. Walter joined the newly organized Lindsay Volunteer Fire Department in 1979 holding several offices, attending Texas A&M Fire Training School, overseeing the building of 2 fire trucks with Flusche Enterprises, and serving as an officer of the Cooke County Fire Association.  He has seen 56 years of service remembering our nations veterans with the help of his family and several dedicated volunteers. He was a Life Member of the VFW Post 1922 in Gainesville, TX.  Beginning in 1982 and continuing for 20 years, Walter served on the Selective Service Board (draft board) for Cooke County.  Walter was currently working with Veterans Out Reach Programs and assisting with military research for local veterans and their families.  Through the years, Walter enjoyed camping with his family, traveling to 1 ^st Battalion/40 ^th Field Artillery yearly Army reunions, following and supporting his grandchildren at livestock shows, sporting events and other activities, and enjoying time in the woods at his property in Dye Mound, TX.

Walter leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Kathleen (Streng) Lutkenhaus of Lindsay, TX, daughters, Donna Neu, Laura and husband, Jim Fisher all of Lindsay, TX, sons, Michael Lutkenhaus and Kim Spivey of Irene, TX and George and wife, Tricia Lutkenhaus of Justin, TX.  Grandchildren include Samantha, Nicholas and Joseph Fisher of Lindsay, TX and George Jr, Andrew and Cooper Lutkenhaus of Justin, TX.  Siblings and spouses include, Norma and John Kubicek of Valley View, Doris and WC Muller of Muenster, Dennis and Carolyn Lutkenhaus of Lindsay, Leo and Peggy Lutkenhaus of Muenster, and Charles Lutkenhaus of Mesa, AZ.  He is also survived by sister-in-law Laverna and John Loeffelholz of Yukon, OK and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  Those preceding him in death include his parents, August J and Armella Lutkenhaus, 2 infant grandchildren Angela and Gabriel Fisher, in-laws Lawrence and Olivia (Dulock) Streng, Marcella Streng, and Miklos and Shirley Nagy.