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 Sara Jean "Sally" (née Lauterbach) Luttjohann If you had the good fortune to meet Sally during her life, odds are she shared a story with you. She delighted in telling friends, family, and anyone with time about the things most precious to her: her children, grandchildren, garden plantings, home projects, and recent antique acquisitions.
She loved to share the latest about her adventurous daughter, Jessica, now married and living in France with 3 talented children. Or her daughter Joanna, an accomplished salesperson, married in Arizona with two beautiful children. And sometimes her son, Christian, married with two teenage children in Arizona.
Sally's other stories sprang from her passions, and a life lived as a series of inspired self-reinventions. At her core, she was an artist and expressed her vision in everything she was involved. In her youth, she acted, danced, sang and was a cheerleader. As a practicing artist, Sally's creations spanned different mediums, receiving numerous accolades and awards. She also had success as a local commercial artist in her youth.
As a caring mother, she developed style as a skillful seamstress creating not only custom clothing but legendary Halloween costumes. Her children have fond memories of themed birthday parties with custom cakes and decorations.
Her artistic flair began to bloom in gardening and landscaping, an interest fostered by her parents. Over the years, Sally became accomplished at planning and planting, favoring a British style. There are many garden plots and trees thriving because of her efforts. She freely gave from her own stock - even preparing, planting and pruning with anyone needing the help. Her landscapes were featured in the Topeka Capital Journal.
As a newly single mother, she struck out on her own and became a gifted saleswoman, always providing for her children. Sally was a driven professional, a top performer and always held herself and others to the highest ethical standard. She rose to sales management while combining business acumen with artistic vision to create several entrepreneurial ventures.
Living the life of a salesperson carried Sally to towns big and small across the Midwest. Between sales calls, you could find her in an antique store, learning the provenance of an interesting artifact, adding an item to one of her collections or shooting the breeze with the owner. She loved finding and restoring good quality furniture and accessories - and she was really good at it.
Sally gave generously to others through her talents. She would pitch in with back breaking hard work when anyone needed help with their landscaping, help you redecorate, paint and restore, deal a hand of bridge with her friends and completely surprise you with the perfect gift at just the right time.
True to her artistic signature, Sally was a "Sara Jean Original."
Sally died of natural causes in Scottsdale, AZ on September 12, 2017, after suffering a series of health setbacks. She is survived by three children, Christian (Susan), Jessica Germanaud (Thierry) and Joanna Crane (Josh), and 7 grandchildren, Cameron, Micaela, Julien, Emma, Gregory, Gillian and William.
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Bill Reed
Suprized and saddened to hear this news. Sally was one of the "genuine" people of this world. Her life force will be missed by those who knew her. RIP Sally "you fought the good fight"!
Margaret Munoz (Garcia)
So sorry about the passing of Sally. Sweet and such a light in this world. My heartfelt condolences to her family that she loved and was so proud of. RIP Sally
Karen Steinmeyer (Lichtenstern)
Precious Sally. So difficult to realize there will be no more messages from you on this web site and difficult to realize that I won't be seeing you and talking to you at length at our 55th as we did at our 50th. I enjoyed that so much and was looking forward to reconnecting with you again. As I was reading about Sally's life and how talented she was in so many areas, it occurred to me that she was never one to brag on her many accomplishments. Yet she was always ready and eager to compliment someone else in her generous and sincere way. She was indeed, "genuine". You will be missed sweet girl! Love, Karen
Rosemary E. McGirr (Smith)
Sally was a lovely lady, she will be missed
Diann R. Edwards (Arbuthnot)
I remember Sally so well from our years at THS. Didn't realize she had transferred to TWS her senior year. She was such a sweel girl and always had time to saw hi and give you a nice smile. May you rest in peace Sally and know there are a lot of people out there who will miss you.
Pamela Nelson (Newman)
Very surprised and sadden by Sallys death, so pretty on the outside and inside. Pam Newman
Carolyn Barrett (Keller)
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Sally. She had a dynamic personality and lit up a room with her smile and beauty. We became friends when I sewed her costume for Her lead in the play Laura at THS. By our senior year at TWHS we spent hours cruising in her convertible talking about our hopes, dreams, and boys. I will miss you Sally . With sympathy. Carolyn Barrett Keller
Glenda K. Huntsman
Several years ago when I started visiting the website for THS/TWHS, and reading the messages classmates were sending each other, I was touched by the updates and comments Sally wrote.
She let us know that she had survived a brain aneurysm, worked through rehab and recovered most of quality in her life back.
She also shared that her mother had passed.
Fortunately she had posted her phone number on her profile, so I called her. It was my wish to let her know how remarkable she was to have navigated through the survival and rehab of a brain aneurysm. Amazing grace!
We continued to call each other from that time forward and I was blessed with her friendship, hearing her stories of her life, her family, her children, her pride in herself as a sales woman and as a single mother providing for her three children, her talents, her creative passions, her gardens and trees that she blessed the earth with, her love of God and country and that she “had been raised a good catholic girl”!
She had a wonderful sense of humor and her stories were pure Sally originals.
At THS Sally and I performed in a Pep Rally together. She played the Trojan Knight and I was the Knight of Highland (we both wore a paper mache suits of armor). She killed me and I had to fall down dead on the stage. It was fun, but the best part was going up into the attic in the tower of THS with Miss Herrick to find the dusty armor to perform in. Sally laughed and added what she remembered as we shared our memories of the Pep assembly.
“Laura” was the first play I worked on and it was wonderful to see Sally's talent on stage in rehearsals. Saw her from a distance, I helped the property people, and made the cane that Mike Wilson's character used, that converted into the sawed off shot gun.
After not knowing Sally very well at THS and the living of 50 plus years..... several years ago making a phone call to her and to be befriended by the one and only Sally “Sara Jean Original”...... and then was blessed by her stories of her life, friendship and love........what a great gift to me!!!
We talked several times after her move to Arizona and she told me she missed her trees in Kansas.
Sally, Mahalo for the beauty of your being and blessing of your life. RIP
In my heart I know you are with God and you are enjoying seeing all of your beloved trees and gardens in Kansas.
To Sally's children, her family, friends and anyone who knew her.... you have my sympathy and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
PS ...Sally you have left your hand print on my heart and because I knew you... I have been changed for Good.
Love you,
Glenda
Ginger Elliott (Withers)
Sally had such a vibrant personality. She was always fun to be around. I especially remember the rides in her red convertible. It is a joy to see how she lived her life..still vibrant and adventurous. ...a life well lived.Kathlyn Hogue (Parker-Rodriguez)
I hadn't known Sally well in high school. She was on of the popular ones I looked up to. But somehow we ran into each other years ago in Kansas City where she was living shen I was there on business. She invited me to spend the night and we spent several hours sharing life stories and exercise routines. That wa a hoot! Sally did not always have it easy- the opposite of what one would have expected for her. but she bore in all with grace and humor. I learned to really admire and genuinely like her that night. Bless you and rest in Peace Sally. We will miss you at the reunion.