Robert D. Loutzenhiser October 9, 1924 – May 14, 2011
Services for Robert D. Loutzenhiser, 86, will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Villisca, Iowa at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2011, with Rev. Sandra Wainright Rossander officiating. Masonic services conducted by Masonic Lodge Iroquois 590 F.M. and A.M. will follow the funeral service. Graveside services will be conducted by Scott Marcum at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton, Iowa with military rites by the American Legion Post 443, Blockton.
Robert Drexel Loutzenhiser was born December 9, 1924 at Blockton, the son of Robert David and Bertha (Warden) Loutzenhiser. He passed away on May 14, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Villisca, Iowa.
Robert graduated from Blockton high school in 1942 and attended Western Michigan University from 1942-1945. This is where he met his wife-to-be, Margaret (Peggy) Locke, the sister of his roommate, Harry Locke. They were married February 20, 1946 while Robert was an ensign in the navy. After Robert was discharged from the navy in 1946, he and Peggy returned to Western Michigan University where he finished his studies for a B.S. degree in industrial arts. They moved to Lake Odessa, Michigan where Robert had accepted his first teaching position. During subsequent years Peggy and Robert lived in Saranac and Gladwin, Michigan, where he taught. In 1956 Peggy and Robert returned to the family farm in Blockton. Peggy was killed in 1965 in an automobile accident.
In 1972 Robert married Sharon Fisher of Bedford. They moved to the Fisher family farm in 1975 which is where Robert lived until he was moved to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Villisca in September 2010.
Robert was always fond of teaching his industrial arts students and took great pride in seeing his students doing their woodworking projects. He enjoyed farming and in later years his own woodworking projects and refinishing antiques. He liked doing things for other people and was always willing to help. He liked making homemade ice cream, fudge and peanut brittle and sharing it at the nursing home and church events. One of his specialties was rhubarb ice cream.
Robert was a member and an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Villisca, a 50+ year member of Masonic Lodge Iroquois 590 F.M. and A.M. and a 60+ year member of the American Legion Post 443 in Blockton.
Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; mother and father, Bertha and Robert; brothers, Warden and Paul; sisters, Marjorie Graham and Idalee Brown; brothers-in-law, Bill Graham, Harvey Brown and Don Locke, and sisters-in-law, Edith (Warden), Faith (Paul) and Agnes (Harry) Locke.
His survivors include his wife, Sharon, of Villisca, Iowa; son, David (Mary Kay) of Blockton, Iowa; daughter, Dee Anne (David) Qualls of Long Beach, California; son, Greg of Des Moines, Iowa; son, Gary (Martha) of Santee, California; granddaughters, Tammy (Vincent) Jorgensen, Cindy (Chet) Brandenburg, Crystal Loutzenhiser and Peggy (Ben) Roed; grandsons, Jorge, Kevin and Alan Loutzenhiser; three great-granddaughters, Viola, Elana and Aubrey; sisters-in-law, Joanie Locke and Dorothy Tucker, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Blockton Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church of Villisca or Good Samaritan Society of Villisca.
Wolfe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
