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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sep '00
LAWRENCE J. LUETTGEN * '46
No. 15650 * 17 Apr 1925 - 4 Apr 1998
Died in New Orleans, LA * Interred in Grand Coteau, LA
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LAWRENCE JOSEPH LUETTGEN was born in Milwaukee,
WI, to Alois and Eleanor Luettgen. Lawrence was the oldest of
five children, with three brothers-Harold, Donald, and Gerald;
and one sister, Gladys. He graduated from South Division High
School in Milwaukee in June 1943 and was appointed to West Point
by Senator Robert M. Lafollette from Wisconsin.
He graduated from USMA and was commissioned in the Field Artillery
in June 1946. While at West Point, he was president of the Chess
Club and active in skiing and the Debate Society. Lawrence loved
debating on any subject. His brother Harold was more than willing
to oblige and take either side of the debate throughout his life.
Upon graduation, Lawrence attended the Basic Course at Ft. Sill,
OK. After serving in Korea, he attended Airborne School at Ft.
Benning, GA. He served in the Army for three years before resigning
as a first lieutenant.
Lawrence traveled to Europe in 1949 with an ultimate goal of
seeing Rome. He had a private audience with the Pope and, upon
returning to the States entered the army of Christ. He was a
Scholastic Novice of the Society of Jesus at St. Charles College
in Grand Coteau, LA. On 16 Jun 1960, Lawrence was ordained a
Jesuit priest at Gesu Church in Milwaukee, WI, and celebrated
his first Mass at St. Anthony's Church, also in Milwaukee.
Throughout his life, Lawrence had always been a voracious reader
in the areas of current and military affairs; of ecclesiastical,
state, and federal politics; of history (particularly of sacred
scripture); theology; and spirituality. He taught history at
a minor seminary in Corpus Christi, TX, for approximately 20
years, and also served as assistant principal for a period of
time.
During the next ten years, he served as chaplain at Lafayette
General Hospital in Lafayette, LA. Lawrence also served as Chaplain
at Methodist Hospital in Tampa, FL, for five years before retiring
in 1995 to Ignatius Residence in New Orleans, LA.
Lawrence was unique in many ways. He loved crossword puzzles
and could tell you the location of all the frozen custard stores
in the cities he lived in. He was a good priest, interested in
others, and faithful in his commitment to share his knowledge
and faith with those entrusted to his care. Throughout his adult
life, he favored a military style crew haircut and took the comments
about it good-naturedly. Lawrence will certainly be missed by
family and friends, but he probably has organized heaven a bit
more with all of the saints marching in step to a military tune.
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