LuAnne was born on June 28, 1928 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Louise Colditz Heyman and Walter Kurt Heyman, recent immigrants from Germany. LuAnne’s first language was German and her first word was árbeiten (work), an apt metaphor for her industrious and productive life. LuAnne was supremely competent and a high achiever in all her endeavors. She was intellectually curious, ambitious, and highly disciplined.
She married Bert van Uitert on September 4, 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During their marriage, LuAnne and Bert lived for short periods of time in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio, finally settling in Boston, Massachusetts where they remained for nearly 30 years. After retirement they returned to Utah to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
LuAnne began piano lessons at the age of eight and became an accomplished pianist and organist. She excelled in school, graduating from South High School and later on the University of Utah. She was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in German, with honors, and also studied Spanish in her free time. She ultimately became fluent in Spanish, served in various Spanish-speaking callings for the Church, and was known for her impeccable grammar and extensive vocabulary.
She was a devoted member of the Church, serving at all levels of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations. She was an avid visiting teacher and often provided companionship for elderly and homebound ward members. She saw to it that every child had transportation to church services and activities, regularly driving from one end of Boston to the other both before and after events. Beginning at the age of twelve, LuAnne served as an organist or pianist in nearly every ward or branch she attended. She also served as an ordinance worker at the Jordan River and Bountiful temples for many years.
In Boston, her culinary skills facilitated her hosting large monthly buffet dinners for old and new friends, neighbors, and Church members. Most every student from Utah attending Harvard or MIT during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s enjoyed delicious meals at her home on multiple occasions.
LuAnne believed in the importance of being physically active, and at various times participated in tennis, basketball, hiking, and swimming. She swam at the local pool five mornings a week well into her 80s.
She took pleasure in regularly corresponding with family and friends via letters and email. She kept meticulous lists of important dates and details. There was hardly a blank space on her calendar without a reminder to mail out greeting cards to commemorate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other special events.
It was important to LuAnne to maintain and strengthen relationships among extended family members. Starting in the 1970s, she personally compiled, typed, and published annual family memory books for both her and Bert’s extended families. She organized regular family meals and reunions with both sides of the family, and particularly enjoyed special meals with her siblings, cousins, and their spouses later in her life. She also created a personalized comprehensive family history memory book for each of her grandchildren.
LuAnne and her husband loved to travel and experience new places and cultures. They were privileged to visit many countries across the globe, including in Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East. She also enjoyed visiting and hiking in many dozens of the National Parks in the United States. Her children and grandchildren were fortunate to accompany her on many of these trips.
She was relentlessly devoted to the well-being, education, and accomplishments of her family. After she and Bert returned to Utah in the mid-1980s, she spent at least one day a week at each of her son’s homes. During these weekly visits she proofread her grandchildren’s school assignments and drove them to music lessons, discussed literature and world events, and baked delicious cookies and pies. She was a season ticket holder at the ballet, opera, symphony, and theater, often inviting her children and grandchildren to accompany her to performances.
LuAnne is survived by her two sons, Dennis van Uitert (Fae) and Kurt van Uitert (Diana), as well as her eight grandchildren, Antonie van Uitert (Anna), Rebecca van Uitert (Jason Howell), Marie Louise van Uitert (Daniel Endreson), Walker van Uitert (Maiki), Katrina Long (Adam), Benjamin van Uitert, Bert van Uitert (Catherine), and Elizabeth Hernandez (Joseph). She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren, Jamie, Maria Louise, Jesus, Manuel, Roxana, Samuel, Evelyn, Charles, Andrew, and Lydia Louise. She is also survived by her siblings—Bernice Nichols (Joe), Walter Heyman, Frank Heyman, and Wilford Heyman (Sheri). LuAnne was preceded in death by her parents and devoted husband, Bert.
Due to current health precautions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private funeral for family members will take place at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Chapel (3401 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84106) on Saturday, November 14 at 11:00 am. For those invited to the funeral a short viewing will be held at 10:00 am. The funeral service will be broadcast via internet for those unable to attend in person. Interment will be held at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
