Carl Peter Lutge

Carl Peter Lutge

August 27, 1960 to November 24, 2023

Carl Peter Lutge fought his battle against a brain tumor and lost on November 24, 2023 while under the care of the University of California San Francisco Parnassus(UCSF) for a long 74 days that began on September 15, 2023. While under the care of UCSF, Carl was infected and treated for multiple hospital acquired infections which led to his body being to weak to withstand any further treatments pertaining to the actual problem, his brain tumor.

What Happened?

The events were horrific, exhausting, and expensive and went downhill quick like this:

Carl’s first brain surgery was in late June, 2023. Shortly following on September 1, 2023, Carl and his dog got lost and went missing in the middle of the night. Carl became very confused, could not sleep, lost all balance and equilibrium since this night. Carl was checked into the Adventist Hospital who transferred him back to UCSF immediately. UCSF confirmed that spinal fluid was leaking in his head which called for an immediate drain tube to be placed into his head and required a well-planned surgery to place a bypass. As weeks passed to analyze if the bypass surgery was successful, Carl had been exposed to a hospital acquired bacteria blood infection that went straight to his heart and urinary trach infection from the catheter. Doctors informed us it was skin cells that got into his bloodstream during his open bypass surgery. This was verified because he was tested for infections prior to the drain tube and surgery and there was no indication of any infections. They called an emergency heart surgery to prevent his heart from blowing up. They added a valve to his heart to sop the infection. Carl now had two cuts on his head and on his chest from top to bottom.

After the heart surgery, Carl lost his voice and could no longer eat being placed on a feeding tube. UCSF determined that the bypass in his head was not working and that they would need to attempt to place a shunt in his head but could not do so until he finished the course of antibiotics and recovered from the unplanned and unexpected heart surgery that they exposed him to. Waiting a long few weeks for his recovery, UCSF doctors said things were looking up as they were planning to prepare for the shunt surgery. Suddenly we got the call that Carl’s heart was weak, reached 200 BPM, needed medicine to get it controlled, turns out that the valve placed into his heart was leaking which would require yet another heart surgery AND his body became to weak and was not strong enough to endure any other procedures yet needed two more procedures to live per their doctor staff. Family members made the decision to remove Carl’s feeding tube ending his pain.

Despite spending much of that time in and out of the UCSF Hospital, he never lost his sense of humor, love for his family and dogs. Throughout his entire journey, he cracked jokes with his grown children, grandchildren and close relatives. He had a great ability to make others smile. Carl had a huge heart and always helped others even when he had nothing.

Carl Peter Lutge is survived by his wife, Melody Lutge, his daughter’s Jennifer Lutge and Crystal Lutge, his son’s Robert Lutge and Darrell Ford. His grandchildren Achilleus Lutge, Darrell Ford Jr, and Desan Ford.

He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Lutge and Barbara Borreto.

Short version of Carl’s Life story

Carl Lutge was born and raised in San Francisco with his four brothers Paul, Jimmy and Joey. Carl went through boy’s homes and lived a tough street life, met some great people along his journey which shaped him into the caring man that he was. Carl got moved to a boy’s home in Plaster County when he was around 11 years old. He endured things that no child should ever endure at this home. Carl was resilient and his strength fought to become a better man than what he had been shown. This is where he learned how to rope, ride horses, shoot, ski, water sports, and was introduced to his famous mechanic skills. He took every opportunity he could to acquire skills to be the best man he could be. In Carl’s words, he became a “City Cowboy.” Carl moved back to the big City which is where he Honed his mechanic skills. During this time, Carl did a little street racing. A little story that Carl was known for during this time:

“Carl’s engine blew up the night before a big street race, so he stayed up all night, tore the engine down, rebuilt it and had it ready to go before sunrise. He had it done before the rooster crows.”

Carl knew how to dismantle an engine and rebuild it. He also worked for the union during his City life which is where he acquired his carpenter skills while building mid-size skyscrapers in San Francisco.

Carl met the love of his life, his wife Melody Lutge in Lake Camanche and got married in 1981. When he found out he was having a son, he wanted to move to a more rural country life to raise his son and start his family. They moved to the top of a mountain on Bell Springs road (he would say just like Jermiah Johnson) in Laytonville of Mendocino County in 1986. There first son was only 9 months old when they made this move. They had their second child, his daughter Jennifer in 1989 becoming a family of four. Carl turned his life around and raised his children in the country of Bell Springs Road with horses and snow. He fixed everybody’s equipment from tractors, to cars, to small generators as well as building new homes on Bell Springs and Spy Rock. Carl became well known as “Mr. Good wrench,” in the small town of Laytonville. Carl also worked for Mike Lewis Racing for 19+ years.

Carl was a hardworking man, law abiding citizen who volunteered much of his time to coaching Football at the Willits Junior Raiders, Willits Cougars, Laytonville Warriors, Laytonville Junior Raiders and the Laytonville Baseball league. Carl spent the last 13 years of his life in the small town of Willits, CA. Carl helped build the new Adventist Health Hospital facility. He was the right-hand man that they could always depend on and always looked forward to seeing his work partner. After the Hospital project, Carl found a maintenance job and became employed by the Willits Unified School District. He worked for the WUSD for approx. 8 years until they let him go while on disability due to his brain tumor diagnosis.

Carl always believed that he could give purpose through coaching. He did more than changed the game, he changed lives. He was a church man throughout his whole journey, always attended church services no matter the obstacles he endured and wanted to be known as a “Godley God fearing person.”

Why do we need help & details?

Carl Lutge was able to complete his five wishes request which asked for a burial verse's cremation due to his religion. We did not expect, plan or know that mortuaries were so expensive nor expect him to leave us. For the cheapest rates and casket, the costs are:

Basic Service $1895.00 (this includes only their professional expertise lol)

Cheapest Casket $1595.00

Embalming $550.00

Transfer fee $500 (35 miles only, $3.50 each mile after)

$3.50 per mile to transfer from UCSF: $833

Hearse vehicle $275.00

Little Lake cemetery Plot $1000

Little Lake required care for the rest of his buried life $400

Little Lake burial whole digging $750.00 (we are not allowed to do the digging ourselves, I asked)

That is a total of $7798.00 which does not include any tax, flowers, or service/wake at the mortuary for $795 which we denied to make it cheaper. This does not include any medical bills the family has been left with as we never did complete the medical process.

We called and checked with Medicare, retirement, and social security for any kind of assistance. Social Security gives only $250 and that is after the burial services are prepaid. Retirement may be able to give between $500 to $2000 but again, can only help after burial is prepaid as they need a death certificate. During the fight for Carl’s life, an amazing 9 people helped twice with what they could which tremendously helped with gas, many of these people were from within our soccer community or individuals who were struggling themselves. Carl Lutge did not ask or receive much help during the fight for his life. Carl was always there to help others in need and never asked for anything in return. That was just the kind of person he was.

If 90 people can donate $100, that would raise $9000. I am asking community to please help place my father’s body at peace within the earth, the only thing he asked for if he had passed on. Going through this experience, we wish we had seeked life insurance but we live and we learn. His daughter Jennifer Lutge is willing to part with her paint horse, and pricey horse saddles for donations upon request.

How to Donate?

-Go Fund Me: https://gofund.me/16a32e29 which adds a 2.9% fee+.30 per transaction. $50=$51.75 or $100=$103.20

-Check or cash payment can be dropped off at Ace Copy or Imagination Station Toy Depot in Willits CA.

-C*sh *pp Carl’s daughter Jennifer Lutge with cashtag $JenniferLutge

-venm* at @jennifer-lutge

-RCU pay Jennifer with phone number [phone redacted] (Redwood Credit Union)

The final ask?

Carl resided in Mendocino County (population alone is 91,305) for 40+ years and he left good memories wherever he went. We are asking for a goal of 90 people to donate $100 or 180 people to donate $50 to help us proceed with the cheapest burial available for Carl Lutge. We are grateful for what you can do whether its more or less.

The wake and services will be determined as soon as possible upon payment per the local mortuary and will be shared with everyone.