Joan Lutz, 82, of Butte passed away April 8th 2022 at UT Southwestern Medical University in Dallas Texas after an extended illness. Joan "Joanie" was born in Butte on May 7, 1939 to Francis and Frances Dowling. She was raised on the Parrot Flat in Butte and attended Jefferson, Grant, and Butte High School. She married William J. Lutz on October 7th 1956. After high school, many of the jobs she worked included Texaco, Roberts Rocky Mountain Equipment, and Anaconda Building Materials. It was at Anaconda Building Materials where she developed many lifelong friendships. After Anaconda Building Materials closed in 1975, she worked in insurance briefly and finished with a 34-year career at Butte Orthopedic Clinic (later Montana Orthopedics) where she also developed many lifelong friends.

Joanie was a fun-loving person who liked people and could strike up a conversation and develop an instant friendship. On any given day Joanie could be found at Crazee Carols Casino where she spent time "just visitin'" good friends and friends she didn't quite know… yet. However, even those who knew her may have been surprised at her hidden talents such as how well she played the piano and her ability to create ornate beautiful pieces of art with her coloring hobby. In the last few years, she lived much of the time with her family in Texas. While going to her various doctor's appointments and everyone she encountered, they quickly learned that she was from Butte Montana and she was darned proud of it. Joan was also extremely proud of her most adored granddaughter Stephanie, participating in everything Stephanie was involved in. Joan glowed with pride when showing pictures and telling everyone about Stephanie's excelling in her ballet passion.

Joan was preceded in death by William J. Lutz, her parents Frances and Francis Dowling, sisters Shirley Morton and Carol Miller. She is survived by her son, John Lutz, his wife Becky, and granddaughter Stephanie of Coppell, TX. Other survivors include nephew Robert Morton (Julie) of Logan, MT and their sons Tom and Jim. In addition, nephews Mark Miller and William Farwell of Butte, sister-in-law Shirley Farwell, nieces Dorothy Brown (Art), Elizabeth Farwell, and nephew Tim Farwell (Shawna) of Las Lunas NM, and nephew Richard Farwell (Janell) of Taos, NM.

Funeral Services will be celebrated on Saturday, June 23, 2022, in the Duggan Dolan Mortuary Chapel.  Rite of Committal will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.