Gary Loutzenheiser

Gary Loutzenheiser, 79, passed on from this earthly life on November 20, 2025, at his home in Oro Valley, AZ, surrounded by his beloved family. Born to Les and Oleta Loutzenheiser on August 25, 1946 in Akron, Ohio, his family later moved to Tucson, AZ in 1961. Following his graduation from Amphitheater High School in 1964, Gary was engaged to Jeanette Kaye (Schwarting) Loutzenheiser and began his service in the US Navy in 1966.

Gary and Kaye were wed in 1968 and began their married life together in Escondido, CA. In 1970, he returned to Tucson after completing four years of military service in Vietnam to attend the University of Arizona, beginning his lifelong career in education as a teacher in Tucson from 1972 through 1977.

In 1977, Gary and Kaye moved their growing family to Wickenburg, AZ, where Gary served as an elementary and middle school principal. In 1988, the couple moved to Apache Junction, where Gary would serve as a principal before retiring from public education in 2003. Following his retirement, he worked as the principal of H'man'shawa Elementary school, Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation until 2012.

After a valiant battle with cancer, Gary's beloved Kaye passed away in 2016. In his wisdom, God provided yet another wonderful woman for Gary to love and share his life with. Shirley Spencer and Gary were married on February 18, 2017, and settled together in their home in Oro Valley, AZ, where they thoroughly enjoyed each other's love and companionship for the rest of Gary's time on earth. Gary was a lifelong servant of Christ, a caring husband, father, and grandfather, and a stalwart friend. His laughter and smile will be missed by so many, and we are grateful for the time we all had with him.

Gary is preceded in death by his wife, Kaye, his mother, Oleta, his father, Les, and his brother, David. He is survived by his wife Shirley, brothers Kenneth (Donna) of Tucson and Mark (Sherri) of Prescott, his sons Mathew (Jennifer) of LaGrange, GA, David (Sara) of Chandler, Andrew (Laura) of Tucson, and his grandchildren Michael (Mary) of Huntsville, AL, Kimberly of Lynchburg, VA, Thomas, Abigail, and Ethan of Chandler, AZ, and Samuel, Joy, and Vivian of Tucson, AZ.

The family of Gary Loutzenheiser will receive friends for a celebration of life ceremony on January 17, 2026 and 11:00am at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Oro Valley, AZ.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to OneMission or the Child Development Center at Resurrection Lutheran Church.