Frederick H. Lutzke, Jr.

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Frederick H. Lutzke Jr. went home to be with Jesus, his Lord and Savior on Sunday, September 25, 2022. Fred was born in Grand Rapids on April 10, 1943, to Frederick H. Lutzke Sr. and Eva Jane (Moon) Lutzke. Fred attended Creston High School, Grand Rapids Junior College and graduated from Ferris State University in 1967 with a BS pharmacy degree.

As a pharmacist, Fred worked many years for the Muir Drug Company and was a member of their board of directors. He also worked a short time for Rite Aid before he and his wife established and operated the Drug Pro Pharmacies in Battle Creek. Fred retired in 2018 from Fruin (Hometown) pharmacy in Bellevue where he worked part time after selling the Drug Pro stores.

In 1973, Fred married Linda Lee (Chivers) Johnson which ended in divorce. Fred is survived by his children, Chad (Mary) Lutzke, Cynthia (Kyle) Randall, and Casey (Michelle) Lutzke; six grandchildren, Kristin Jordan, Elijah Lutzke, Nekoda Lutzke, Maryn Randall, Amelia Lutzke, Silas Lutzke; and three great-grandchildren, Kyler Jordan, Brittany Jordan and Hendrix Lutzke. He is also survived by three brothers, William (Belinda), Lawrence (Barbara) and Donald (Jeannie) along with several nephews and nieces. He was preceded by his parents.

Fred accepted Jesus as his Savior on March 22, 2002, and his life was changed forever. He was involved in his community as well. He was a past distinguished president and member of the Harper Creek Optimist club, a past board member of the Haven and served for nearly ten years as mission’s pastor at First Wesleyan Church. In this capacity, he traveled to Mexico, Zambia and Haiti on medical mission trips using his pharmacy skills to serve others. He was also involved in arranging for many missions of the church locally, nationally, and internationally. Since 2004, Fred has traveled extensively to many countries as a student of biblical archaeology especially Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Greece, and several others.

In 2015, Fred founded Love Thy Neighbor ministries in the former Drug Pro pharmacy building. Along with many dedicated volunteers, the ministry is a food pantry which is one of six pantries of the Neighborhood Food Pantry Ministry in Battle Creek, also has six teams serving at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen each month and provides more than 300 weekend food bags for elementary school children. For this effort he was a recipient of the George Award. Fred was also recently honored as a grand marshal of the HC Optimist-Battle Creek Christmas parade and received the “Golden Trowel” award from the Rotary Club. For many years Fred helped Jimmy C during the Sunday Morning Hymntime Country Style program on WNWN 98.5 radio.

Fred was a faithful attendee of the Battle Creek Friends Church and enjoyed studying the Bible. He loved fishing, gardening, watching the Tigers and Lions games, and U of M sports teams. He most enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren participate in sporting events.

Memorial donations may be directed to the South Michigan Food Bank designating the Love Thy Neighbor Food Pantry or to the Battle Creek Community Foundation designating the Love Thy Neighbor Community Project Fund.

Per Fred’s request, cremation has been entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy 27 N, Marshall, MI 49068.

Visitation will be held SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022, at Battle Creek Friends Church, 1305 Olive Street, Battle Creek, MI 49014 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm with a Celebration of Life Service on MONDAY, OCTOBER  17, 2022, at 11:00am with Pastor John Grafton officiating. To share a memory, leave a condolence or sign the online guestbook please visit https://kempffuneralhome.com .