Iva Ann Lutjen
Iva Ann Lutjen, age 75, joined our Lord on August 25, 2010.
Ann lived in Merriam, Kansas, and was born in 1934 in St. Charles, Virginia, to Starling and Kate West.
Ann was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 44 years and held numerous offices in the Second District and in the Department of Kansas including Past President and Department President from 1997-1998. Ann was a member of the Lenexa Post 400, the Kansas Historical Society, Phi Tau Omega Sorority and Hope Lutheran Church. Ann volunteered at the VA Hospital in Leavenworth and established a clothing room and enjoyed watching it grow into an entire house of operation. In July of this year Ann was recognized for her efforts when the house was dedicated to Ann and was renamed “Annies’s Closet.”
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Lutjen, and her parents. Ann leaves behind two sisters, Evelyn Rhodes (Ed), Bowden, West Virginia and Jean DeSeure, Kansas City, Kansas. She also leaves behind 5 nieces and 6 nephews and the love of many great nieces, nephews and her American Legion family and friends.
Ann requested no flowers but donations instead to:
Leavenworth Veterans Voluntary Services
Attn: Annie’s Closet or Gift Shop
4101 S. 4th Street
Leavenworth, Kansas 66048-5014
or
Sunflower Health Care/Hospice
7398 W. 162nd Terrace
Stilwell, Kansas 66085
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, September 2, 2010, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Friday, September 3, 2010, at Hope Lutheran Church, 6308 Quivira Road, Shawnee, Kansas 66203.
Print Obituary & Condolences
Offer Condolence for the family of Iva Ann Lutjen
Messages of Condolence
Please share your thoughts ...
QR Code for this Obituary
Use your Smartphone to scan the QR Code on the right to access this page on your phone.Grief Video Series
Join Grief Expert, Doug Manning in his Journey Through Grief video series.
Watch the Grief Videos here.Would you like to order flowers?
If you would like to order flowers please see the selection available at Russell Florist. Click here to see all of the available floral arrangements.
Ann will be dearly missed she was a light of inspiration to everyone who knew her. She gave so much of herself to help our veterans and will not be forgotten. Please let us know at the post if we can do anything to help you during your time of need.
913-492-2244
I’m am so sorry to hear of Iva Ann’s passing. I know that she was a wonderful and thoughtful woman. My heart and prayers go out to all of the family.
Ann is a very dear and special friend..She cared so much for family and very dedicated to the American Legion..We will all miss her very much..
May God bless all her family..
It is so hard to let loose of the physical part of a loved one, not hearing her voice or her laugh again. Yet we celebrate in our hearts her reunion with our Father and know we will some day be with her again in Heaven. Thank you God for greeting her with open arms. No more worry , no more pain. Ann was a wonderful beautiful woman and will trully be missed but not forgotten.
She left a very powerul legacy in her family and in her giving so generoulsy of her self. God give this family peace .
With Gods Love
Diane & Fred
My sister Ann – Ann had a lot of friends and they will miss her. Ann was my sister first and then my friend. We had our ups and downs. She always knew more than me or anyone else, but that was Ann and that didn’t make me love her any less. Ann was always there for me and my family. When I lost my husband she was right by me side. Ann and I could talk on the phone for hours and never talk about anything that meant anything except to us. Ann and I talked about when we were young and lived in Baltimore. We helped our parents a lot. Ann babysit and I used to clean marble steps. We gave our parents half of our money as my Dad was laid off from Bethlehem Steel. Ann and I spent our money going to Friday night dances at the church. As we grew older all of our family ended up in Kansas and that is where she met the love of her life, Al Lutjen. Ann lost her husband and then we lost our Mother and Dad. Then I lost my husband. Ann got sick in January and went down hill from there. In April everything changed, one test after another. They they found a tumor and then things really got worse when she called and said she had cancer. In June, Ann called and said the doctor told her to get things in order as they had diagnosed her at stage 4. When she told me this I felt like my heart was going to bust. I never thought things would end up this way. I didn’t know what to say, here my sister was telling me she was going to die and I still didn’t know what to say. I will miss the phone calls and our talks. I will miss my sister but she is at peace now and has no more pain. So sleep, my sister, sleep, for you are in God’s hands and he will take care of you. You will be missed by many but most of all by your sisters, Evelyn and Jean.
Please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your sister and aunt.
Ann lived across the street for what seemed like forever. She was such a dear woman and a wonderful neighbor. I will miss her terribly.
She fought a hard battle with a huge amount of pain, but she never let others know of the pain she was going through.
Ann, I am happy to know you are now with the Lord and your dear, Al.
I love you very much!
Teri
Our condolences to the family of Ann. She was a wonderful lady and she will be missed by all who knew her. Mom saw her recently at the grocery store and knew that her time was short. She is at peace now and no longer in pain. . – Glenda Hocker and Glendora Mercer