Carl Lindy Lautzenheiser passed away on November 27, 2017. Carl was born in Lansing, Michigan on September 6, 1927 to Irene and Lewis Lautzenheiser. Carl graduated from Eastern High School and then worked at the State of Michigan where he met the love of his life, Ella Everett. They married on September 1, 1951. Carl served in the Army and following his military service, he attended the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating with a degree in Interior Design.
Carl and Ella moved back to Lansing where Carl worked as a designer at Michigan State University before opening Lautzenheiser Interiors in Okemos, Michigan. In 1980, Carl closed his business and worked at Jacobson’s Store for the Home in East Lansing and then discovered his love of teaching as an instructor of Interior Design at Michigan State University until 1990.
On a trip to Wisconsin, Carl and Ella fell in love with the area and decided to relocate to Phelps, Wisconsin where they ran the Oak Ridge Resort for several years and enjoyed meeting their guests and leaving them fresh bouquets of flowers upon their arrival at the resort. Flower arranging was another one of Carl’s artistic gifts, which he demonstrated by providing flowers for weddings or any occasion.
When Ella’s Parkinson’s disease progressed, they moved to Mason, Michigan to be closer to their family. A dedicated caregiver, Carl demonstrated his love and devotion to Ella until her death in 2013.
Carl is survived by his children, Greg (Carolyn) Lautzenheiser, Jeff (Marilyn) Lautzenheiser, Ted (Pam) Lautzenheiser, and Karl (Jolaine) Lautzenheiser; his seven grandchildren, Kate (Dan) Fiske, Kari (Brandon) Tinkham, Eric (Misty) Lautzenheiser, Scot (Jessie) Lautzenheiser, Janelle Lautzenheiser, Katrina Lautzenheiser, and Bret Lautzenheiser; his nine great-grandchildren, Abigail, Austin, Olivia, Lauren, Ryan, Riley, Noah, Henry, and Madelyn; siblings Lewis (Betty) Lautzenheiser, Ada Doerner, Ione Wilder, sister-in-law, Rowena Lautzenheiser; and several loving and attentive nieces and nephews.
Carl lived a life of integrity and strength, which was apparent in his six-month battle with esophageal cancer. In lieu of flowers, please remember Carl with gifts to the American Cancer Society or to the Herbert-Herman Sparrow Cancer Center.
A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 201 E. Ash St., Mason, Michigan, Saturday, December 2, at 3:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service.
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