Wanda Louise Lutke

Born March 2, 1925 in Decatur to George Steven and Genevieve Sophia (Warozenska) Sipka, she married Wayne D. Shults on June 1, 1943 in Missouri. He died March 13, 1989. She later married Alfred Lutke on February 17, 1967 in Pekin. He died April 10, 1998. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Eugene Shults; one daughter, Trody Jean Taylor; four grandchildren, Matthew Scott Butler, Michelle Lynn Hilst, Marsha Ziegenbein and Jeffrey Schappaugh; two brothers, Walter Sipka and Edward Sipka and two sisters, Cecilia Thurman and Anna Mae Sipka.

Surviving are one son, Ron (Sandy) Shults of Manito; twelve grandchildren, Ronnie Shults of Centralia, Lisa Shults, Lori (John) Nash, Marcie Butler, all of Pekin, Mark (Emily) Shults of St. Louis, Melissa (Travis) Catton of Dunlap, Megan (Cameron) Courson and Jody (Joe) Coffey, both of Pekin; seventeen great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, George “Bud” Sipka and Paul (Mary) Sipka, both of Pekin and one sister, Helen Fischer of Pekin.

Wanda worked at American Distilling Company in the bottling department in Pekin for 33 years, retiring in 1980. She then worked for We Care in Morton for 5 years, then the American Red Cross for several years and last for the Tazewell County Treasurer’s Office for several years. In her early years, she worked in manufacturing during the war and for a cookie factory.

She was a volunteer at Pekin Hospital for many years and enjoyed attending activities at the Miller Center in Pekin. She enjoyed playing cards, crocheting, and fishing. Her beloved dog, Susie, was her life.

She was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.

Her funeral Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 23, 2025 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin. Father Michael Andrejek will be the celebrant. Visitation will be one hour before the Mass on Friday at the church. Burial will follow the Mass at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin. Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 303 South 7th Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com