Aloysius J. Luetmer, 95, of Melrose, left us peacefully Oct. 23, 2024.
Called “Al” by family, friends and neighbors, he was known for his big stature and strong spirit. A dedicated farmer with a passion for baseball that would stay with him throughout his life, his biggest sources of pride were his family.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with the Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Inurnment will be at the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Oct. 30 at the church.
Born Nov. 24, 1928, in Meire Grove, Minnesota, to Joseph and Marie (Nietfeld) Luetmer, Al attended the parochial school in Meire Grove, finishing his education at St. John’s Preparatory School. Part of a large, close-knit farming family, Al often shared stories of the many adventures he had with his siblings while growing up.
He married Maureen Heinen April 30, 1957, in New Munich. They lived on the Luetmer dairy farm north of Meire Grove, which became a century farm in 1984. Here, they raised their eight children. As a family, they enjoyed annual Easter egg hunts, where Al was always the Easter bunny who hid the eggs all over the farm; Thanksgiving football games with cousins; wiener roasts in the woods; snowmobiling; swimming at Fairy Lake in Sauk Centre; and those early morning trips up north to the clearing in Swatera and later to Lu-Ca-Me-Li, the cabin on Round Lake. Al and Maureen also had a lot of fun with their neighbors at those great Homemaker card parties. Al was very passionate about farming and his registered Holstein dairy herd, taking great pride in his cattle and the discipline and dedication maintaining a registered herd required.
Another more well-known passion of Al’s was baseball. He began playing for Green Grove and helped start the Meire Grove team. He also had a hand in building the baseball field in Meire Grove where many close and exciting games were played over the years. Al later became manager of the Meire Grove team and coached the Legion team. Several of his sons and a grandson followed in his footsteps, playing baseball on the field he helped to build. In August of 2022, Al was honored to throw out the first pitch at the Stearns County League regionals held at the Meire Grove ballpark. He was inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Hall of Fame in 1981 for his achievements in leadership, on and off the field and hitting four home runs in a single game.
Al and Maureen lived at the family farm until they retired, moving first to a home on Birch Lake in1991, then to Melrose in 2014.
Al loved to spend time with his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. He was a big St. John’s football fan and enjoyed attending St. John’s football games. Cards were another favorite, especially playing Solo with his buddies in Melrose, St. Rosa and Sauk Centre or cribbage with anyone willing to take him on. He liked snowmobiling, especially trips to Brainerd with Maureen and their friends; spending time outdoors fishing and hunting, particularly up north at their cabin on Round Lake — he said Round Lake fish always tasted the best — and several trips to the Big Horn Mountains near Ten Sleep, Wyoming.
One of his very favorite things was to drive around the countryside to see how the crops were progressing and discovering a Stearns County backroad he’d never been down before.
He volunteered for local church activities and served on the Federal Land Bank.
Al is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Maureen; their children, Rose Pawlenty of Monticello, Martin Luetmer (Linda) of Belle Plaine, Tony Luetmer (Sheri) of Meire Grove, Patricia Luetmer of San Diego, California, and Lois Luetmer of Los Angeles, California; 13 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his children, Mary Frances Monroe (Rod), Robert Gerard Luetmer (Amy) and Theodore Joseph Luetmer; grandchild Franklin Carol Luetmer; son-in-law Stephen Leo Pawlenty; parents Joseph Luetmer and Marie (Nietfeld) Luetmer; sisters Lidwina Stacy, Rose O’Connor, Colette Gates, Sister Nora Luetmer, OSB, and Marie Luetmer; brothers Henry Luetmer and Larry Luetmer; and cousin Mary Lou Harris.
As we say goodbye to Al, we remember him not only as a farmer or baseball legend but as a man who liked to find a road less traveled. His legacy will endure through his family and all those who were fortunate enough to know him.
Friends and family are invited to share their favorite memories as we honor a man who was a pillar of his local farming and baseball communities for many years.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.
