Mary W. Luginsland

Mary W. Luginsland, 78, of Lansing, MI, passed away on 8 April 2017 at her home in Lansing after a short but courageous fight against sudden illness.  She was born Mary Elizabeth Wellman on 11 January 1939 in Lansing as the second daughter to Dr. John and Elsie (Vial) Wellman.

She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and earned a Master of Arts in Education from Michigan State University.  She married the love of her life, William O. Luginsland, and enjoyed a 55-year marriage, living in Lansing after a brief time in Missouri during her husband’s Army service.

She retained her determination for service and her love for community to the end.  While at Michigan, she was a member of Alpha Phi, and was elected President of the Panhellenic League, serving as a representative of Greek life to student government.  After graduation from UM, she served as the Assistant Director of the Student Activities division of the Office of Student Affairs at MSU.  Mary volunteered for the Junior League of Lansing, organizing fund raising actives, such as the Junior League Follies, to benefit the wider community.  A longtime member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, her love of art led her to develop A Fine Arts Guide to St. Paul’s Church, for which she served as Editor.  This work documented the artistic qualities of the woodcarving, painting, needlework, and stained glass of the historic church.  An accomplished needleworker, she made kneeling cushions for St. Paul’s in addition to many wonderful pillows for family and friends that she designed to commemorate ideas that she loved.  She and her husband Bill loved the arts and nature, vacation in the Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan, attending performances at MSU’s Wharton Center and the Lange Choral Ensemble, as well as trips beyond count to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

Throughout her life, Mary shined with love, hospitality, and curiosity.  Her sense of humor, love of learning, and drive to make the world a better place was profound.  She will be greatly missed.  She is survived by her husband, William Luginsland; her son and daughter-in-law, John Luginsland and Leigh Ann Vaughn of Ithaca, NY; her nieces, Jennifer Kanouse of San Francisco, CA and Sarah Stickney (Kanouse), and her husband Jon, of Naples, FL; and by many friends and neighbors.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2017, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. Her family will receive friends beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Michigan State University’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824.