Obituary of Steve Lutsch

LUTSCH, Steve

With profound sadness, we announce the sudden passing of Steve Lutsch on June 1, 2022, at 66 years of age.

Cherished husband and soulmate of Ingrid and loving father to Peter, Stefanie Couvillon (Scott) and Jason, and four grandchildren, he leaves behind his grieving best friend Kirk McCarthy (Noreen).

Dearest son-in-law of Katharina Kerker, Germany and brother-in-law to Sonja Ortner (Martin), Austria, he was predeceased by his parents Stefan and Katharina Lutsch, Windsor and his father-in-law Karl Kerker, Germany. Steve's niece, nephews and dear friends also will miss his presence. Surviving are sisters Kathy Nasr and Linda Meldrum.

His family and friends are now reflecting on the many happy memories and adventures they shared with Steve. Windsor-born Steve and Ingrid were to celebrate the 29th anniversary of their wedding aboard the Flagship Helene on June 5. A skilled trade worker at the former GM transmission plant, he was better known for his skill as a competitive kayaker at every level of the sport throughout North America and Europe. He led teams to Toronto and Quebec City for years and put Windsor on the map in ice-canoe racing. The British Canoe Union's highest ranking for boat handling and rescue techniques was among his credentials. As a representative of several manufacturers, Steve sold and delivered sea kayaks across Canada. He always loved introducing new paddlers to the sport and led many guided wilderness trips on our Great Lakes. Steve was shy of making it to the straight 50 years of his tradition to celebrate New Year's Day with a dip in his kayak and paddle on the Detroit River. He was a natural-born storyteller who had a boundless zest for life and was full of positivity. As a photographer, Steve could visualize beauty others could never see and loved writing about current events and kayaks in magazines and social media. Hopefully, the book he was working on is in the hands of a publisher eager to share Steve's knowledge about his beloved Detroit River. A gifted artist, his paintings brightened his own home and others. And his whit? You could expect an abundance of laughter while on paddling trips and at many get-togethers. We want to hear more about his latest and upcoming trips or project.

He was a devoted family man. He loved dogs and took pride in maintaining his home, however ambitious the task. He travelled broadly to Ingrid's native Germany and throughout Europe, Mexico, and Canada's West Coast with Ingrid and Peter. Anyone who has spent time with Steve has unforgettable memories of him. Please feel free to share your favourite story. Or, better yet, grab your paddle, grab your camera and enjoy some time on or by the water.

Special thanks to Windsor EMS and the ER and ICU staff at WRH for their care, especially Dr. Wassermann, Melissa, Dawn, Denise and Josh.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation for a local memorial bench at Kayak Cove: lutschkayakcove@gmail.com or to Friends of Killarney Park: www.friendsofkillarneypark.com

Cremation has taken place. Memorial visitation to take place at WINDSOR CHAPEL (Banwell Chapel) 11677 Tecumseh Rd E. 519.253.7234, on June 11th, 2022, from 2-5pm and 7pm until time of service at 8pm in the chapel. Online condolences, cherished memories and the full obituary may be found at www.windsorchapel.com.

If you wish to watch the service CLICK HERE