Lueva Irvin

Madison – Lueva Mae Irvin passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 30, 2021, at the age of 78, after an extraordinary life filled with love, laughter and family. Lueva was born on March 2, 1942, to John and Opal Lientz, in Urbana, IL. She met the love of her life, Thomas Irvin, at age 16.  They were married four years later and raised two sons, Stephen Thomas Irvin and Timothy James Irvin.

Lueva grew up in a working-class family, but earned a 4.0-grade point average in high school, allowing her to win a full academic scholarship at the University of Illinois, where she became the first person in her family to go to college.

Her academic achievement earned her high accolades at the university, where she became a member of The Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s most prestigious honor society for high achieving students.  Her name is inscribed in bronze in the University Honors tablet in Urbana, representing the top three percent of students in the 1964 graduating class.

Earning a degree in education, Lueva taught algebra in public school, later becoming the accounting manager at WISC-TV in Madison, WI, until her retirement.

Lueva loved to collect dolls, play bridge, and escape to the guilty pleasure of a romance novel.  For her family, she will always be remembered as an ever reliable source of common sense and wisdom, a tireless caretaker and nurturer, who worked hard to build a better life for her children and grandchildren.  She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, who will be dearly missed.

Lueva is survived by her two sons, Stephen and Timothy, brother, John Robert Lientz, grandson, Zachary Irvin, and daughter-in-law, Ericka Irvin.

Lueva was preceded in death by her husband Thomas, parents John and Opal Lientz, and grandmother Eva Prior.

A funeral service will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, on Friday, February 5, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434