PAUL WARREN LUTZ Paul Warren Lutz passed away at his home on August 23, 2026, with his wife and daughters by his side. Paul was born May 1, 1954, in Fort Monroe, Virginia to CliƯord and Dorothy Lutz, the oldest of four children. After his dad's military service, the family returned to living and working on the family farm in North Dakota until they moved to Wyoming. Paul graduated from Worland High School in 1972 and studied at Eastern New Mexico University for a short time before returning to Wyoming to work in the oilfields.

On January 5, 1975, Paul married Cindy, the love of his life. He always did everything with her in mind. He loved buying her flowers and other gifts that would bring a smile to her face. Together they would put on many road miles taking monthly trips to see their kids and grandkids. Both loved to spend time camping in the Big Horn Mountains.

Paul and Cindy started their lives in Worland, Wyoming where Paul worked for Pepsi and Cindy was a homemaker. Not long after their daughter Laura was born, they moved to Spearfish, South Dakota where he managed the new warehouse for Pepsi. In 1978, their lives would change when Paul took a job as a heavy equipment operator at the Shirly Basin uranium mine and moved to Casper, Wyoming. Here their daughter Lacey was born. After the mine scaled back production, Paul continued to work as a heavy equipment operator building highways and driving snowplow for the Wyoming DOT.

In 1984, he took a chance and accepted a job at Black Thunder coal mine and his family relocated to Gillette, Wyoming. He would continue to work at Black Thunder through the ups and downs of the mining industry until 2018. While at Black Thunder, Paul could be seen operating scrapers, haul trucks, dozers and the dragline. He became certified as an EMT serving as a mine rescue crew member and also participated in mine rescue competitions outside of Wyoming. On his days oƯ, you could find him working for Campbell County EMS ambulance crew. His work was a source of pride, even if he didn't like it all the time. His girls learned colorful coal miner language at an early age. In 2019, Paul and Cindy moved to Missoula, Montana.

Paul lived a simple life. He knew the value of hard work but was good-hearted and always tried to make life better for those around him. He made sure there were no favorites and what he did for one he did for all. He was quick to get in a car to rescue his kids whose vehicles had broken down, help with the yearly firewood for his mother-in-law or to lend a helping hand to a friend that needed one. He loved to read and his military history knowledge rivaled any college professor. You would often find him reading and watching TV history shows at the same time. His love for learning was a gift he shared with his children and grandchildren. His grandsons fondly remember him teaching and taking them to shoot. Life wasn't always easy for Paul, he was a life-long Denver Broncos fan after all. His siblings tell stories of fun days on the farm in North Dakota. They are quick to recall his patience and always being helpful to others. His nieces and nephews remember how his eyes lit up when telling a story, giving them a hard time, and how he was there for the quiet moments that others missed. Paul did not know a stranger and could talk to anyone, a skill that has certainly passed on to some of his grandchildren.

Paul will be missed by those who knew and loved him most. Survivors include his wife Lucinda "Cindy" Lutz, Montana; his daughters Laura Lutz-Zimmerman (Wade), Iowa and Lacey VanGrinsven (Steven), Montana; his brothers Rockey Lutz, Oregon and Michael Lutz (Shelly), Oklahoma; and six grandchildren Nicolas, Jackson, Lily, Ivy, Eli, and Theron. He is preceded in death by his sister Connie (Taylor) Reed and his parents CliƯord Lutz and Dorothy Jung Lutz Miller.

The family is celebrating Paul's life privately but ask that you remember Paul by helping someone in need, being a good friend, and being there for your family when it counts.