Thomas Robert Lautzenheiser, 80, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in Lexington, Kentucky.
Thomas was born on March 27, 1944, in Taylor County, Kentucky, to the late Robert D. and Lucille A. Lautzenheiser. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife, Deborah, in Fort Wayne. Tom proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1966 and later dedicated himself to a distinguished career as a Fort Wayne police officer from 1968 to 1999.
Tom’s upbringing in Bluffton provided the foundation for his journey. While his career led him to Fort Wayne, he returned to Bluffton upon retiring from the police department. In 2019, Tom relocated to Kentucky, settling in or near Lexington to be closer to loved ones in Kentucky.
Tom was an avid hunter, fisherman and sportsman. He was also a master at crossword puzzles and a literary genius; his vocabulary was second to none. His sense of humor would light up any room. He enjoyed watching the Cubs lose year after year and collected many different things. Tom held a special place in his heart for his dogs.
In addition to his wife, Deborah, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Virginia “Ginger” I. Lautzenheiser of Fort Wayne, and his brother, Richard Lautzenheiser of Bluffton.
His three children survive, Amber Costa of Louisville, Amanda (Tom) Gebhart of Lexington, and Jason Lautzenheiser of Lexington. He leaves behind a legacy through his 10 grandchildren, Tira (Travis) Donnelly, Zachary Guy, Lucas Guy, Joseph Guy, Angela Costa, Elizabeth Costa, Devon Baker, Andrew Costa, Aubrey Lautzenheiser and Jason Lautzenheiser Jr. Additionally, he is survived by his several great-grandchildren and his sister, Beverly Jean Daniels of Garrett, Indiana.
A military graveside service to honor Tom’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky, followed by a celebration of his remarkable life.
Expressions of sympathy and condolences can be sent to 2801 Newman Rd., Lexington, KY 40515. In memory of Tom, memorial donations can be made to the American Kidney Fund.