Vicki Lutz

Vicki (Halverson) Lutz, age 60, Green Bay, passed away quietly Sunday, June 23, 2013 as the result of complications from heart surgery. Vicki was born on October 11, 1952 to Leo and Bonnie (Bell) Halverson in Port Washington, Wis. She grew up in Beaver Dam, Wis. as the eldest of six children. Vicki met the love of her life, Keith Lutz, while at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis. They wed on August 3, 1974 in Beaver Dam. They have two children, Amanda and Adam. Vicki is a 1974 graduate of Carroll College and holds a Master’s in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass. Vicki spent nearly 40 years teaching and touching hundreds of students throughout the Milwaukee and Green Bay areas. Vicki spent 24 of those years in the Green Bay Public School District, teaching at Anne Sullivan, Langlade and Webster Elementary Schools. Whether she made her students taste green-colored foods around St. Patrick’s Day for “Tasting ‘O the Green” or used movement and music to stimulate their learning, Vicki always had a unique way of making sure her students realized their maximum potential. She retired on June 10, 2013. Vicki's teaching talents were recognized many times by the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Partners in Education. She received the organization’s Golden Apple Award in 1999, earned Teacher of Distinction honors in 1996, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, and was nominated many more times for the award throughout her career. She also received the Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship Award in 2001. Vicki’s reach goes well beyond the classroom. She was active in her parish at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church; she sang in the church choir, cantored for hundreds of Masses, weddings and funerals, directed the children’s choir and served on the liturgy staff. Vicki sang in the WPS Chorus and the Dudley Birder Chorale. She served as a parent manager for the Green Bay Boy Choir for 11 years. Recently, her husband coerced her into acting with him; she landed roles in Inspecting Carol (Evergreen Productions) and The Sound of Music (Summer Music Theater at St. Norbert College). Vicki loved all things bright, sparkly and full of bling. She was well known for her vast collection of Christmas ornaments and holiday decorations. She was the “go to” person for any unusual costume piece, décor or craft supply. Vicki also had an incredible collection of the craziest earrings you can imagine! Vicki was preceded in death by her father, Leo Halverson, and father-in-law, Wesley Lutz. Ironically, her mother, Bonnie (Bell) Halverson, passed away less than 24 hours after Vicki. Vicki is survived by her husband, Keith Lutz; her daughter and son-in-law, Amanda (Lutz) and Scott Theisen; her son, Adam Lutz; her siblings and their spouses, Jane (Halverson) and Carl Freehauf, Troy and Cynthia Halverson, Lisa (Halverson) and Dave Hoffman, Todd Halverson, and Eric and Judy Halverson; her mother-in-law, Bernadine Lutz; her sister-in-law Susan (Lutz) Warde; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held Thursday, June 27, from 4-8 p.m. and Friday, June 28 from 9-11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) Catholic Church, 2771 Oakwood Drive in Green Bay. A memorial Mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday at SEAS. At Vicki’s request, please wear bright, happy colors to the visitation and memorial Mass, instead of black. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Vicki’s honor to provide scholarships to education students. Donations may be sent to: Scholarships Inc., 2050 Riverside Dr., Green Bay, WI 54301, or online at www.scholarshipsinc.org. The family wishes to extend its sincere thanks to the CVICU staff at St. Vincent Hospital for the excellent care they gave Vicki in her final days.

Vicki Lutz

October 11, 1952 - June 23, 2013