Pauline (Schweitzer) Lutmer

PAULINE LUTMER, age 88 of Adrian MN and Arden Hills, MN, died Friday April 12, 2024, at Elk Ridge Memory Care Center in Maplewood, MN. She was born on July 28, 1935, on the Schweitzer family farm south of Adrian, to Leo and Mary (Venenga) Schweitzer. Pauline graduated from St. Mary’s Ellsworth High School in 1952 and then received her RN degree at Presentation School of Nursing McKennan Unit class of 1955 in Sioux Falls. Pauline went on to practice nursing for 45 years starting as Dr. Laikola’s chief nurse at the Adrian clinic where she literally did it all from clinic visits to surgical nurse, delivering babies, ambulance calls and house calls. She went on to be the director of Nurses at Mary Jane Brown Nursing Home, finally retiring as the RN Supervisor at the Luverne Veterans Home. There isn’t enough space to highlight the stories of the people she helped and the lives she saved; God put her in the right place.

   Pauline married Ed Lutmer on June 12th 1956, at St. Adrian Catholic Church. They were happily married for 44 years until Ed’s death in 2000. They had 3 children Kathy, Steve and Tom. Their house quickly became the go to place for her younger siblings still on the family farm to the point that Kathy thought they were older brothers and sisters until she knew otherwise. Such was the case in her life of caring for her family and friends, she was at her happiest when she could bring people together. Pauline’s faith was a core part of who she was and she was very active at St. Adrian’s in various capacities. She played bridge, did needlepoint, crocheted, made ceramics, made custom greeting cards and loved to bake. She loved to travel and enjoyed many vacations around the world with her friends and family. 

   Pauline loved being a grandma, it was one of her most cherished roles in life. Whether it was Jamie spending summers in Adrian or all of the special moments she spent with Jessica and Katie, there was always fun to be had, good times and plenty of laughter to be shared. After retiring, Pauline spent many winters as a snowbird in Sun City West Arizona and just loved to tell all of us kids back home how nice it was when we were freezing here in MN. True to form her house quickly became a gathering place for her family and all of her new friends. 

   Pauline is survived by her 3 children, Kathleen (Gary) Poslusny,  Steven Lutmer, and Thomas (Jacquelyn) Lutmer;  3 grandchildren, Jamie (Miranda)Poslusny, Jessica Lutmer and Katie Lutmer; and great-grandson, Logan Poslusny; brothers, Bob Schweitzer, Ed Schweitzer (Namita), Ron Schweitzer (Mary), Greg Schweitzer and Mark Schweitzer; sisters, Rita Lakmann (Jim), Rose Kahnke, and Suzanne Winter; many nieces and nephews; and her brother-in-law, Bob Lutmer (Mary Carol).

   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edward Lutmer; and siblings, Norma Paul, Elmer Schweitzer, Larry Schweitzer and Jerry Schweitzer.

   Visitation will be from 4-7 pm Thursday, April 18, at St. Adrian Catholic Church in Adrian; and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am Friday at St. Adrian Catholic Church officiated by Monsignor Richard Colletti. Burial will be in the St. Adrian Cemetery.

   Dingmann Funeral Home, in Adrian, is in charge of arrangements.

   To live stream the funeral service please visit http://www.facebook.com/DingmannFH

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