On Sunday March 21, 2021, Dr. Harry Lutzer, loving father of Christiaan Lutzer and father-in-law to Diem Le Do passed away at the age of 79. He is survived by his son Christiaan and Christiaan’s wife Diem, and two sisters, Margaret Sonnenberg and Wanda Taron. As well, many brothers in law and nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.
Harry was born on July 27, 1941 in Poland. In 1949 the family moved to Canada where he went to school and ultimately got a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Alberta in 1974. He met Annabel Evans there, got married and had his only son, Christiaan Evans Lutzer.
Harry loved helping people and lifting them up. He was always there to point people in the right direction, give them the nudges they need, and hold their hand in comfort. His service to others was recognized when he was awarded the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award from the Alberta Continuing Care Association after giving more than 430 hours of volunteer service over a 4 year period. His award sums up Harry’s character perfectly: Harry exemplifies community service and is truly a passionate, warm, and inspirational volunteer and human being.
A service will be held on Saturday April 10th at 2:30 pm MST at the South Side Memorial Chapel at 8310 104 Street, Edmonton AB CA.
Harry was born on July 27, 1941 in Poland. In 1949 the family moved to Canada where he went to school and ultimately got a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Alberta in 1974. He met Annabel Evans there, got married and had his only son, Christiaan Evans Lutzer.
Harry loved helping people and lifting them up. He was always there to point people in the right direction, give them the nudges they need, and hold their hand in comfort. His service to others was recognized when he was awarded the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award from the Alberta Continuing Care Association after giving more than 430 hours of volunteer service over a 4 year period. His award sums up Harry’s character perfectly: Harry exemplifies community service and is truly a passionate, warm, and inspirational volunteer and human being.
A service will be held on Saturday April 10th at 2:30 pm MST at the South Side Memorial Chapel at 8310 104 Street, Edmonton AB CA.
I have a lot of memories, from the time we moved to Edmonton in 1968, going forward. Our families spent many holidays together. Also, I remember many, many hours of rocking Christiaan to sleep as a baby, since he spent the first few years of his life {several days a week} in our home, while his parents worked. Having a baby in our home was a dream come true for myself as a young teenager. Much later, as I had my own family, Christiaan spent many hours playing with my own children, teaching them how to build with Legos. Several years ago at a family Christmas celebration that Harry and Christiaan were a part of, we performed musical presentations. That year I "tried" playing a selection on the clarinet. A few weeks later, I remember my uncle Harry maneuvering his way through the crowd, up to the front of church (after the service) and hunted me down to present me with a CD of some "real" clarinet music - Mozart's Clarinet Concerto! To this day, I treasure that CD - I have the music in my car, and whenever that selection comes on, I am thrilled. It always reminds me of my uncle Harry! He did love good classical music! ♫♪♫♪
Remembering my friend Harry
Many, many, many years ago, the Winnipeg choir would come annually to Edmonton for Labor Day weekend services to what was called "Jugendtreffen" - a meeting of youth. Among the Winnipeg contingent was my friend Harry. Harry appeared to have been the only chap in the entire German Church of God movement in Canada who actually owned a regulation size and weight leather football. And, before the services commenced, the "Winnipeg Blue Bombers" would square off against the "Edmonton Eskimos". The "Eskimos", being the home team, usually had to re-assign some of their draft choices to the "Bombers". As well, the "Bombers" suffered from "roadlag" - not too many jets in the sky at that time. Who won isn't important. Good times and good friendships ensued.
In February 1963, when my studies had taken me to Stanford, Harry wrote that he was looking forward to joining me in California. Plans change ....
Christiaan and Diem, may the God of all comfort, comfort you in your grief and loss.
Many, many, many years ago, the Winnipeg choir would come annually to Edmonton for Labor Day weekend services to what was called "Jugendtreffen" - a meeting of youth. Among the Winnipeg contingent was my friend Harry. Harry appeared to have been the only chap in the entire German Church of God movement in Canada who actually owned a regulation size and weight leather football. And, before the services commenced, the "Winnipeg Blue Bombers" would square off against the "Edmonton Eskimos". The "Eskimos", being the home team, usually had to re-assign some of their draft choices to the "Bombers". As well, the "Bombers" suffered from "roadlag" - not too many jets in the sky at that time. Who won isn't important. Good times and good friendships ensued.
In February 1963, when my studies had taken me to Stanford, Harry wrote that he was looking forward to joining me in California. Plans change ....
Christiaan and Diem, may the God of all comfort, comfort you in your grief and loss.
I have been blessed with a number of very special uncles and Uncle Harry was one of them. I have so many happy memories of him and I owe him so much. I remember how much time he devoted to Randy and me when we were little. He took us on many a Sunday-afternoon adventure, and made us cool toys with things from his lab. I particularly remember one neat balancing toy involving a graduated cylinder and some pipettes! He was a wonderful photographer and some of our best childhood photos were taken by him. I am grateful that he gave me such a wonderful cousin, Christiaan, and that I was his babysitter of choice! Uncle Harry had an amazing record collection and after Christiaan was asleep I would listen to my favourites. In fact, I actually wore out his LP of Mozart’s Horn Concertos because I played it so often. One night, instead of paying me for babysitting, he gave me my own copy of the record! Thank you so much for everything, my dear Uncle Harry! I will miss you!
Dear Christian and Diem! Wishing you our condolences on the passing of your Dad/ Dad-in law! May the memories that you made together give you comfort at this time! Brian, Marnita Sonnenberg with James, Julia and Keith.
Harry's dedicated contribution to the community is surely a path hard to follow. May he rest in peace.
I remember the first time I met Harry - I was so nervous because I wanted to leave a good impression and was intimidated by how accomplished he was, after hearing all the stories Christiaan had told me about Harry.
When I met him, Harry was so warm and inclusive that my nervousness quickly dissipated. I didn't feel judged - which people tend to do with first impressions - instead, I just remember meeting a compassionate, kind-hearted man who genuinely cared about getting to know me as a person. Over the years, Harry has not once passed judgment on me despite the many mistakes I have made and despite my many flaws. He has only passed on whole-hearted love and appreciation of me as his daughter-in-law.
That first night, Harry even made dinner from scratch from one of his own recipes to welcome me: giant, delicious hamburgers with diced onions. That evening was such a simple evening, but it was one of my favorite memories with Harry.
When I met him, Harry was so warm and inclusive that my nervousness quickly dissipated. I didn't feel judged - which people tend to do with first impressions - instead, I just remember meeting a compassionate, kind-hearted man who genuinely cared about getting to know me as a person. Over the years, Harry has not once passed judgment on me despite the many mistakes I have made and despite my many flaws. He has only passed on whole-hearted love and appreciation of me as his daughter-in-law.
That first night, Harry even made dinner from scratch from one of his own recipes to welcome me: giant, delicious hamburgers with diced onions. That evening was such a simple evening, but it was one of my favorite memories with Harry.
To my loving father,
You were my greatest champion. You were always there for me through thick and thin. You always supported me in everything I ever did. You always knew what was important to me.
A huge hole in my heart has been left behind. The pain of losing a parent never truly goes away--hopefully it becomes more bearable over time. That feeling of loss will be a constant reminder to love my family unconditionally. It will be a reminder to stay connected to my family because that's all we truly have.
Your kindness toward others is truly inspirational and was your greatest attribute. Your memory, and your presence in my heart will help me imbue that kindness to others. Thank you for this final lesson in life.
I will treasure your memory forever. Your loving son, Christiaan.
You were my greatest champion. You were always there for me through thick and thin. You always supported me in everything I ever did. You always knew what was important to me.
A huge hole in my heart has been left behind. The pain of losing a parent never truly goes away--hopefully it becomes more bearable over time. That feeling of loss will be a constant reminder to love my family unconditionally. It will be a reminder to stay connected to my family because that's all we truly have.
Your kindness toward others is truly inspirational and was your greatest attribute. Your memory, and your presence in my heart will help me imbue that kindness to others. Thank you for this final lesson in life.
I will treasure your memory forever. Your loving son, Christiaan.
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I have a lot of memories, from the time we moved to Edmonton in 1968, going forward. Our families spent many holidays together. Also, I remember many, many hours of rocking Christiaan to sleep as a baby, since he spent the first few years of his life {several days a week} in our home, while his parents worked. Having a baby in our home was a dream come true for myself as a young teenager. Much later, as I had my own family, Christiaan spent many hours playing with my own children, teaching them how to build with Legos. Several years ago at a family Christmas celebration that Harry and Christiaan were a part of, we performed musical presentations. That year I "tried" playing a selection on the clarinet. A few weeks later, I remember my uncle Harry maneuvering his way through the crowd, up to the front of church (after the service) and hunted me down to present me with a CD of some "real" clarinet music - Mozart's Clarinet Concerto! To this day, I treasure that CD - I have the music in my car, and whenever that selection comes on, I am thrilled. It always reminds me of my uncle Harry! He did love good classical music! ♫♪♫♪
Remembering my friend Harry
Many, many, many years ago, the Winnipeg choir would come annually to Edmonton for Labor Day weekend services to what was called "Jugendtreffen" - a meeting of youth. Among the Winnipeg contingent was my friend Harry. Harry appeared to have been the only chap in the entire German Church of God movement in Canada who actually owned a regulation size and weight leather football. And, before the services commenced, the "Winnipeg Blue Bombers" would square off against the "Edmonton Eskimos". The "Eskimos", being the home team, usually had to re-assign some of their draft choices to the "Bombers". As well, the "Bombers" suffered from "roadlag" - not too many jets in the sky at that time. Who won isn't important. Good times and good friendships ensued.
In February 1963, when my studies had taken me to Stanford, Harry wrote that he was looking forward to joining me in California. Plans change ....
Christiaan and Diem, may the God of all comfort, comfort you in your grief and loss.
Many, many, many years ago, the Winnipeg choir would come annually to Edmonton for Labor Day weekend services to what was called "Jugendtreffen" - a meeting of youth. Among the Winnipeg contingent was my friend Harry. Harry appeared to have been the only chap in the entire German Church of God movement in Canada who actually owned a regulation size and weight leather football. And, before the services commenced, the "Winnipeg Blue Bombers" would square off against the "Edmonton Eskimos". The "Eskimos", being the home team, usually had to re-assign some of their draft choices to the "Bombers". As well, the "Bombers" suffered from "roadlag" - not too many jets in the sky at that time. Who won isn't important. Good times and good friendships ensued.
In February 1963, when my studies had taken me to Stanford, Harry wrote that he was looking forward to joining me in California. Plans change ....
Christiaan and Diem, may the God of all comfort, comfort you in your grief and loss.
I have been blessed with a number of very special uncles and Uncle Harry was one of them. I have so many happy memories of him and I owe him so much. I remember how much time he devoted to Randy and me when we were little. He took us on many a Sunday-afternoon adventure, and made us cool toys with things from his lab. I particularly remember one neat balancing toy involving a graduated cylinder and some pipettes! He was a wonderful photographer and some of our best childhood photos were taken by him. I am grateful that he gave me such a wonderful cousin, Christiaan, and that I was his babysitter of choice! Uncle Harry had an amazing record collection and after Christiaan was asleep I would listen to my favourites. In fact, I actually wore out his LP of Mozart’s Horn Concertos because I played it so often. One night, instead of paying me for babysitting, he gave me my own copy of the record! Thank you so much for everything, my dear Uncle Harry! I will miss you!
Gallery
Harry & Christiaan
Sieg, Harry & Christiaan
Art, Harry, Else & Gerald
In memory of Uncle Harry
Harry & Margrit (1961)
Harry & Margrit chilling in the back yard (1962)
The best man presents the ring at Margrit's wedding.
The best man rounds the corner at a run at Margrit's wedding.
Recent stories
Cooking - June 2012
My Dad loved to cook. Food was definitely one of his passions. When he would visit me he would cook, as he loved to and we would eat together on the kitchen island (because I didn't have any other furniture).
I am terrible with remembering to take photos, and am very regretful for it. But here is one of my Dad in the reflection of the oven, eating dinner in our Nevada house. I will be changing that about myself. As I reflect back on the last 20 years, I don't have enough photographs of my loved ones.
I am terrible with remembering to take photos, and am very regretful for it. But here is one of my Dad in the reflection of the oven, eating dinner in our Nevada house. I will be changing that about myself. As I reflect back on the last 20 years, I don't have enough photographs of my loved ones.
