Else Elisabeth Luther

Else Elisabeth Petritzki Luther, age 94, was welcomed into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 24, 2026.

Else was born on August 30, 1931, in Rogozajny, Poland, and spent her childhood in Germany, where her life of faith began. She was baptized on September 3, 1931, and later confirmed on April 18, 1946, in the presence of God at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kirchwistedt, Germany. A lifelong Christian, Else was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and she lived her faith daily through humble service, kindness, and love for others.

In 1950, Else immigrated to the United States as a dressmaker. A gifted seamstress, she continued to bless countless lives through her craft, creating wardrobes for her daughters and lovingly altering dresses for her granddaughter and many of her friends. Sewing was not just a skill, but an expression of her care for others.

Else was the very definition of hospitality. Everyone who walked through her door felt immediately at home. No one ever left hungry. There was always coffee brewing, and her pancakes (crepes) and potato pancakes were legendary. She treated everyone as family; she became "Mom," "Grandma," and "GG" to all who knew her.

A cheerful and dedicated volunteer, Else faithfully served behind the scenes for many years. Her service included the church kitchen, Vacation Bible School, altar guild, Camp Fire Girls, Irving Community Hospital, and Lutheran Braille Workers. She never sought recognition, but her presence and willingness to help were deeply felt by all.

Through the years she spent with those she loved, Else taught invaluable lessons: how to sew, how to cook, how to host, how to love, and how to live a Christian life. She showed by example how to be a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend, and how to generously spoil those you love with love.

Else was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edmund R. Luther; her parents, Gustav and Emma Petritzki; her brothers, Alfred Petritzki and Ewald Petritzki; and her son-in-law, Bill Anderson.

She is survived by her daughters, Linda Anderson and Laura Brammer; her sister, Johanna Wirach, and her husband, Peter; her grandchildren, Jeff Anderson and his wife Kendra, Stephanie Barron and her husband Eric, Ryan Brammer and his wife Aubrey, and Mark Anderson and his wife Susan; and her great-grandchildren, Matthew Anderson, Emma Brammer, Abigail Barron, Shelby Anderson, James Anderson, Samantha Anderson, and Nolan Brammer.

Else's life was a beautiful testimony of faith, service, and love. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and the family she cherished so deeply.