Richard A. "Dick" Loetscher 1928-2012

LOETSCHER, BARTELS, MOLO, GILLOON, HORCHAK, SIEKMANN, TRENEMAN, JACKSON

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 4/28/2018 at 11:03:56

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, July 15, 2012

Richard A. "Dick" Loetscher, 84, passed away at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque, at 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, 2012, which was his father's birthday. This past year he contentedly resided at Bethany Home, which was built by his grandfather and was the family home of his father.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 21, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 255 W. 10th St., Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 20, at Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, and at the church from 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service.

Dick was born on July 1, 1928, at The Finley Hospital. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 with a B.S. degree. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. The day after graduation he started to work at the "mill" that was Farley and Loetscher Manufacturing Company, which was started by his grandfather, Christian Loetscher, in 1875. During his youth he learned to operate every piece of machinery in the plant. As an employee, he was involved with many facets of the "mill," including being a designer of raw products.

When the "mill" closed in 1961, Dick started Dick Loetscher, Inc. and went into land development and construction. Among many projects during his working years were major renovations on both the Stampfer and Roshek Buildings. In all his works, Dick was known as a perfectionist and master builder.

Dick enjoyed sharing his Dubuqueland knowledge, especially of the millwork arena, the history of Dubuque buildings and houses, and stories of the innumerable unique persons who were the real Dubuque treasures.

Dick was a member of Rover Boys. He was a past president and lifetime member of Dubuque Homebuilders. Dick was a past president and a 58-year member of the 990 Club of Dubuque Shooting Society. He was a past president of The Finley Hospital Board of Trustees and served 18 years from 1963-1981. He was a past president and member of the Linwood Cemetery Association. Dick was a 50+ year member of Masonic Temple, Mosaic Lodge 125 and a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ. He was a member of the Dubuque Golf & Country Club for 83 years.

He loved fishing and hunting with his sons and friends and made many trips to Canada, including the Arctic Circle. He loved the Mississippi River for fishing and recreational purposes. His paramount hobby was woodworking, which he started at age eight, encouraged by his father. His favorite piece of equipment was the lathe, which he used to turn raw wood into finished masterpieces. His beautiful handcrafted furniture is prized by the owners.

He married Carole Bartels, his wife of 55 years, on December 30, 1956. The wedding couple was outshined at their wedding reception by the beautiful orchid tree given by William S. Molo in thankfulness to Dick for saving his life when he fell off the "Bart L" into the Mississippi River.

Surviving are his wife, Carole, and their four children, Penny (Arthur: "his favorite son-in-law"), of Dubuque, Doctor Christian "Andy" (Allison) Loetscher, of Alpharetta, Georgia, William "Toby" (Janaan) Loetscher, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Doctor Sara Loetscher, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; eight grandchildren, Doctor Benjamin (Doctor Connie) Gilloon, of Edina, Minn., Sara Gilloon, of Chicago, Emily Gilloon, of Dubuque, Justin Loetscher Horchak, of Phoenix, Arizona, Suzanna and Penny Loetscher, of Alpharetta, Ashley Loetscher, of Santa Clara, Calif., and Jonathon Loetscher, of Klamath Falls; and a great-granddaughter, Ella Grace Gilloon, of Edina. Dick also is survived by his sister, Marion Siekmann, of West Chicago, Illinois; his sisters-in-law, Beverly Treneman, of McMinnville, Oregon, and Nancy Wendt, of Klamath Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Bernice and Arnold; his sister, Susan Jackson; and all his ancestors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Dick's name to Bethany Home, The Finley Hospital and the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

The Loetscher family is appreciative and thankful for the compassion and care of Doctor Mark Liaboe, who counseled Dick through his health care.

The family is thankful to The Finley Hospital nursing staff for their impeccable care in the last days of his life.

DICK HAS GONE FISHING.