Obituary of Lutz Floegel

July 30, 1937 - Kiel-Wiek, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

October 19, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

Husband, father, talented musician, animal, and nature lover, Lutz Floegel passed away suddenly on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at the age of 85 years, following complications related to a fall.

Lutz moved to Canada in 1967, beginning an unending enthusiasm for Canada’s great outdoors. He enjoyed boating and fishing in Alberta’s beautiful lakes, riding horses on friends’ ranches in Bragg Creek, gardening, and caring for the many dogs he had over the years.

As a child who grew up in a musical family, Lutz’s lifelong passion was playing guitar and making music with friends. As a young man, he played gigs in Europe at holiday resorts and onboard party cruises.  Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, he performed at corporate functions, restaurants, and weddings in Calgary and area, and resort towns in British Columbia.

In the mid-80s, seeking a life away from the hustle and bustle of the city, he and his wife moved to a small acreage south of High River. The two enjoyed their parcel of land where Lutz tended an ever-increasing flock of chickens, peacocks, and other varieties of fancy birds. Each summer he threw himself into container gardening which resulted in a regular harvest of vegetables that augmented the fresh eggs that supplied the table. When the acreage became too much, a move to Nanton took place where he grew flowers, and herbs and housed stray cats who sought shelter.

In recent years, a move was made back to Calgary where Lutz devoted himself to caring for his wife who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. He taught himself to cook and delivered homecooked soups and snacks on his daily visits to her care home.

Widowed in 2021, Lutz increasingly spent time at his stepdaughter’s home, south of Bragg Creek, where he enjoyed chatting with the many friends who visited the ranch, helping with chores, spending time with the horses, and puttering around his “man cave” shed.  Lutz passed time in the city touring the aisles of his favorite local shops, and of course, playing guitar. In recent months he was particularly proud of having learned to use an iPhone to text and telephone.

Lutz was predeceased by his wife Erna (nee Ricklefs), mother Luise Ilse (nee Ruttkowsi) of Leipzig, and father Arthur Kurt Flögel of the Polish territory of Tschöpeln in Niederschlesien. He is survived by his stepdaughter Rebecka Freels, daughter-in-law Jennifer Winkler, and brothers, Claus (Anni) Flögel, and Peter (Edda) Flögel, and their children.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

The family extends enormous gratitude to Calgary EMS, and staff at Foothills Hospital (ER, Neurosciences Unit, and ICU).

In living memory of Lutz, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.