Laurie "Joy" Lutzi

Laurie “Joy” Lutzi, age 100 of Mankato, passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

Memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, Mankato with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be at a later date in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Ecumen Hospice, or Blue Earth County Friends of the Library. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Joy was born on January 9, 1924 in Devils Lake, ND to Robert and Laurie (Larson) Ekstrand. She graduated from Monroe High School in St. Paul and attended Macalester College.

Joy and Phil met as pen pals during WWII. On August 15, 1945 they were married in Minneapolis at the Fort Snelling Chapel. They made their home in lower North Mankato in 1950 where Joy was a homemaker who was active in Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, PTA, and was also a member of the school board. Joy found time to share her energy with the First Presbyterian Church in Mankato where she was a member for 72 years. She and her husband started and ran Mankato Hobby Craft for 15 years. Joy held many clerical positions until retiring from North Mankato City Hall.

Joy liked to travel and visited all 50 states and 4 continents. She enjoyed spending time in her garden and reading. She continued to volunteer at many places including the Mankato Library and Pathstone. Joy was active in the Mankato Woman’s Club, Presbyterian Women’s Circle, and PEO. Above all Joy loved spending time with her family.

Survivors include her children, Phil Lutzi of St. Pete Beach, FL, Barbara (Charles) Bartz of Norwalk, CT, and Elizabeth (Bruce Sines) Lutzi of Gulfport, FL; brother, David Ekstrand of Lillydale, MN, as well as nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and their children. Joy shared a special bond with Melissa Ekstrand-Eischens.

She was preceded in death by husband, Phil; parents, Robert and Laurie Ekstrand; brothers, Robert and Jon Ekstrand; nephew, Steven Ekstrand.

She will be dearly missed.