Vera Virginia Lutz

Vera Virginia (Whipple) Lutz, 98, of Hindsboro, IL was born October 22, 1926, near Humboldt, IL, to W. E. and Zelda (Evans) Whipple. She passed away at 12:25 AM on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Arbor Rose care facility in Charleston, IL.

Vera grew up on the Whipple family farm northeast of Humboldt, which was purchased by her great grandfather, Civil War veteran Ezra Henry Whipple. She inherited the land, although her childhood farmhouse, barns, and all buildings except a corn crib were demolished during the construction of Interstate Highway 57.

Growing up, Vera loved animals, including the family’s riding horses, their cats, and even a pet fox. As an adult, she kept a team of six husky sled dogs that could sometimes be seen pulling her on a cart near her home in Hindsboro, IL. The team had also pulled her or family members around snow-covered fields on her dogsled occasionally.

While Vera was attending Arcola High School, the U.S. entered WWII, and everyone was supporting the war effort. When she graduated in May of 1944, she entered nurses’ training, while her boyfriend and future husband, Robert E. “Bob” Lutz, entered the Army Air Corps. Bob became a tail-gunner on a B-24 bomber crew, but the war ended just before they were to be sent to fight in the Pacific. Vera’s nursing school did not allow trainees to marry, so Bob stayed in the Army a bit longer as a clerk. Vera finished nursing school and passed her state board examination on August 15, 1947. On August 18 she and Bob were married in Mattoon, IL.

The Tuscola, IL, Jarman Hospital 2009 “Jarman Baby Book” notes that Vera worked there for several years. “She was a nurse on the OB floor when a baby weighing less than three pounds was the first to use the new incubator in 1947”, as reported in local newspapers. She later worked there as a Medicare Hospital Benefits Coordinator.

Vera was a member of the Hindsboro United Methodist Church.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, her brother, W. Neil Whipple, and great-nephew Jeffrey Whipple. She is survived by her sons William (Audrey) Lutz of Humboldt [Mike, Josh, and their families] and Dale (Linda) Lutz of Maplewood, MN; grandchildren, Laura Lutz of Manchester, MI, and Christopher (Jill) Lutz of Woodbury, MN; two great-grandsons, a niece and a nephew; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main St., Arcola, IL. Burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral home, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the funeral home.