William "Bill" Lutz

William “Bill” Lutz, 83, Kansas City, Missouri (formerly of Topeka, Kansas) passed away peacefully Saturday, July 28, 2018. Bill was born September 1, 1934 in Topeka, the son of Roy and Marguerite Loeffler Lutz. He attended Holy Name Grade School and graduated from Hayden High School. He spent his 20th and 21st birthdays in the hospital fighting for his life with two types of polio. He promised God that if He would give him the use of his arms and legs back, then he would give 25 years of his life to the youth of Topeka. He missed two basketball seasons but did everything in his power to regain his strength. When he was physically able, he returned to Holy Name School where he first began coaching. For 33 years Bill was involved with coaching basketball and baseball, making sure his athletes knew that he cared for them off the court as well as on. He taught them to keep their priorities in order, first was God and family, then school and then basketball. Bill met the love of his life, Shirley Semler, and after the first few dates he told a friend that he would marry her. They became engaged but just a few short days before their wedding day his diagnosis of polio made them call it all off. Shirley stayed through those painful months and when his health improved, they planned it all again. They enjoyed 63 years together. Bill’s early career was in men’s clothing, working in many of the well-known shops of the past, including Gibbs Clothing, Ray Beers and Frank Griggs Men’s Wear. He retired from the State of Kansas Motor Vehicle Department. Grateful to have shared Bill’s life are his wife, Shirley; sons, Kent Lutz (Connie) and Kevin Lutz (Tish Aspegren); grandchildren, Brandon, Trisha Lutz-Ball (James), Payton, Laura Welker (Clint) and Jenna Joplin (John); and great-grandchildren, Aiden, Mya, Owen, Blake, Max and Annie. Bill was preceded in death by his grandson, Christopher Lutz and his siblings, Bob, Tom and Myrtle. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Mater Dei Holy Name Church, 1114 SW 10th Street, Topeka KS 66604. Visitation will be one hour prior to Mass. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to Special Olympics or Hayden Catholic High School sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614 or Charter Funeral Home, 77 NE 72nd Street, Gladstone MO 64118. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.

William "Bill" Lutz

September 1, 1934 - July 28, 2018