John C. “Jack” Loesch died at home with his daughter at his side on Aug 14^th at 8:14PM. He was born to Orville and Zeda LaRue (Meredith) on March 24^th, 1934. He was the youngest and only son with three sisters. He was baptized and Confirmed at Parma Evangelical United Brethren Church of Parma, OH. His father donated a piece of their family farm land so the congregation could have a permanent worship space beyond the two room schoolhouse where they traditionally met.

Jack was the captain of his high school football team, playing both offense and defense. It was his all-time favorite sport. He also excelled at hunting and fishing which his father and uncles had taught him at a young age. He enjoyed nature and the outdoors right up to the week before he died, walking an average 3 miles a day.

Jack was a pre-med student at Case Western Reserve when he married his high school sweetheart Marie. He always wanted to be a doctor like his eldest sister Beverly. He and Marie had two sets of twin boys, another boy and baby girl. After 19 years they divorced. He then remarried and had another son Kevin. He divorced again yet always stayed an active part of his kids’ lives.

He worked as a policeman, private investigator, seafood business owner (setting up fisheries worldwide). His greatest joy was working with his five sons in the family seafood business. He was a great cook and made conch chowder, conch fritters and deviled crab among other delicacies. When his sister Bev developed Alzheimer’s he moved from Florida to Virginia to care for her in her home. After many years of care, it broke his heart to finally place her in a nursing facility when he could no longer physically care for her. She died weeks later.

He stayed in Virginia where he met the last love of his life Rheba Dudley. Jack worked as a van driver providing transportation for patients with disabilities until he was 75. He only quit when he felt he couldn’t safely navigate the Virginia mountain roads in winter anymore.

A few years later he would call his daughter to be his caregiver when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He moved in with her family where he became a regular fixture walking the neighborhood on French Island.

He still called Beba every evening at 5PM. In his last call to her (a week before he died) he said, “Don’t forget me, I love you”.

Jack loved to travel and visited most every state except Hawaii and Alaska. He was still trying to talk his daughter into taking him on a trip of the Alaska Canada highway in the weeks before his death.

Jack will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his calm demeanor, compassion and twinkle in his blue eyes.

Jack remained a faithful servant of Christ his whole life. Despite battling Alzheimer’s he still could recite from memory parts of the Holy Eucharist service and the Lord’s Prayer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Beverly, Lois and Shirley, his ex-wife Marie and his nephew Scott. He is survived by his oldest twin sons: Jack (Susann) Loesch; James (Kathy) Loesch; son Gregg, twin sons Kim and Kerry Loesch, and daughter/caregivers Lee (Tim) Donahue, son Kevin.

Grandchildren: Katie (Ean) Meyer; Kelly (Mike) Paduano, Jimmy Loesch, Alicia Loesch, Stephanie (Stephan) Mahler, and caregiver Christopher Donahue. Great grandchildren: Michael, Molly and name sake Jack; Kaley and Riley; and Maiky. He is also survived by best friend Frank Lockhart and girlfriend Beba Dudley of Virginia.

Our family would like to thank Dr. Deetz of Mayo health system for his genuine compassionate care, Dr. Geralyn Brasic and St. Jude Hospice nurses Kathy and Char and special aide Rashidat all whom Dad loved dearly. He is deeply missed.

Services are at Christ Episcopal Church 111 N 9th Street La Crosse, WI 54601 Sat. August 23^rd at 3PM. Memorials to Christ Church are preferred. Visitation will be at 2:30 until the time of service at church on Saturday. Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.