Robert E. “Bob” Lutz, 86, of 3514 Spruce Ave., Manly, Iowa died Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at the Manly Care Center. Memorial services were held Friday, March 28, at the Bethel United Methodist Church, Manly, with the Rev. Don Preston officiating. Military honors were provided by the American Legion Edward Tosel Post #110, Manly. Inurnment will take place at a later time at Oakwood Cemetery, Plymouth, Iowa. Family suggests memorials to Robert E. Lutz Memorial Fund.
    Bob was born Oct. 23, 1921 in Plankinton, S.D., the son of Lawrence and Ruth (Jones) Lutz. He quit school at an early age to help on the family farm and other farms and ranches. He enlisted in the United States Army on July 20, 1942. As with many of his 535th AAA WW II buddies, he was very proud of his country and its flag and also those who served under it. He participated in many military operations beginning at Camp Haan, desert of Calf to Camp Callan near San Diego, Calif., then back across country to the Tennessee Maneuvers and Camp Atterberry, Ind., Ft. Fisher, N.C., Camp Davis, N.C. and on to Shanks, N.Y. to be shipped to England via Grenwich, Scotland. Then it was on to beaches of Normandy up through France, Belgium, Germany and Austria. Whether it was on foot, truck, bus, train, troop ship or luxury ocean liner he had an interesting story to tell. He was discharged from the Army as a sergeant. On Nov. 24, 1945, with citations of Bronze Arrowhead, American Theater Ribbon, European-African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal 43, Bronze Star Medal Go 17, and 99th INF DIV 45. Following his discharge he always stayed in touch with his unit and enjoyed attending the reunions.
    After the service he moved back to South Dakota where he drove truck, farmed and worked various construction jobs. He married Dawn Jobe Hawkins Sept. 28, 1946 in Mt. Vernon, S.D.
    In 1965 with a leap of faith and his good friend John Dougan, they bought 1,600 acres of the Lindon Ranch south of Clear Lake for $500,000, which was the biggest land sale in the history of Cerro Gordo County up until then. He was also one of five partners in Hilltop Ranch at Dows, Iowa in the late 1960’s along with Dougan, Clarence Hobbs and Jim Brown. Brown, after farming in South Dakota, moved back to Iowa to manage this property.
    In 1968 they moved to their present home rural in Manly, where he continued to farm. He enjoyed the outdoors, raising cattle and sheep and his dogs. He is a member of Bethel United Methodist Church, Manly, American Legion Tosil Post 110 of Manly, and was a life member of Plankinton V.F.W.
    Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dawn Lutz, Manly; children, Monte Hawkins, Manly, and his children Angela (Jamie) Sorenson and their children, Kaitlyn and Kyra; D.J (Karey) Hawkins, and their children, Kenni and Bailey; Tina (Jeff) Frances and their children, Zoey and Jacey; Mary Jane Hawkins, Britt, Iowa and her granddaughter, Olinca Padiern; children, John Durgin, David (Amy) Durgin and their child, Addison; Dixie (Duane) Meyer and their children, D.J. and Daniel; Jeanne Lechuga and her children, Cody, Cole, Coda, Crystal, Caden Carena and Cesar; Janelle (Vern) Dannen, Plymouth, Iowa and their children Amy (Shad) Stoeffler, and their children, Brock and Blake; Kari (Bill) Pate, and their children, Aric, Dylin, Caileb and Abby; Aaron (Lindsey) Dannen and their children, Izac, Cloey, Owen and Wyatt; Randy (Cheryl) Lutz, Mason City, Iowa and their children, Lisa (Pete) Roth and their child, Cooper, Jess (Jessica) Lutz; Jaime (Kathy) Lutz, Mason City, and their children, Natasha and Ali Lutz; two brothers, Ed (Barb) Lutz and their family, Garrison, S.D. and Tom (Ruth) Lutz and their family, Bassett, Neb.; sister-in-law, Edrah Spielman and her family, Springfield, Ore.; several nieces; nephews; and his 535th army family including Capt. Bill Hughes, Florida.
    He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Melvin Lutz; sister, Esther Zundel; daughter-in-law, Sandy Hawkins; brother-in-law, Bob Jobe; sister-in-law, Sharon Clair and numerous members of his 535th family and other family and friends.
    Bride Colonial Chapel, Manly, was in charge of arrangements.