1943
James
2016
James Loftness
January 30, 1943 — June 13, 2016
James Gerhard Loftness, age 73, died Monday, June 13, 2016, at his home after a 5 year battle with Multiple Myeloma.
James was born on January 30, 1943. He attended Gibbon High School. He received his degree in Wildlife Management from Colorado State University. Upon completion of college, he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado, Fort Sam Houston and Fort Hood, Texas as a company clerk and later as a Medic. In 1968 he was hired by the Minnesota DNR as a Conservation Officer and stationed in Redwood Falls, MN. It was here that he met and married Rita Mineer of Winnebago, MN in 1970. In 1973 he transferred to a newly opened station in Evansville, MN where he and his family lived for 23 years. James was a member of the Evansville Fire Department, the Evansville Legion and a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville where he sang in the church choir and the quartet, Faith Notes. In 1997 they moved to their new home on Clitherall Lake in Battle Lake, MN. He retired in 1998 after 30 years with the DNR.
Upon retirement, Jim volunteered at the Prairie Wetland Learning Center in Fergus Falls, helping teach and lead discovery hikes. It was here that he learned a new passion …native flower gardening. Jim was also an avid hunter and fisherman and loved taking his granddaughters sunfish fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerhard and Eunice Loftness.
Jim is survived by his wife, Rita and two children; Anne (Greg) Oldakowski of Wadena, MN and Matt (Krista) Loftness of Tracy, MN. He has three precious granddaughters, Kelanie and Lydia Oldakowski and Aliyah Loftness. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Suzanne and John Gilman of Green Bay, WI and a brother-in-law, Lynn Mineer and wife Donna of Walker, MN.
Memorial Gathering: Friday, June 17, from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m., at the Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville.
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 17, at Faith Lutheran Church.
Clergy: Pastor Dennis Preston
Interment: Mound Grove Cemetery, Evansville
Military Honors by the American Legion Post 188 of Evansville
Funeral arrangements are with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Evansville.
Jim's Memorial Folder
James Loftness Tribute Video
James was born on January 30, 1943. He attended Gibbon High School. He received his degree in Wildlife Management from Colorado State University. Upon completion of college, he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado, Fort Sam Houston and Fort Hood, Texas as a company clerk and later as a Medic. In 1968 he was hired by the Minnesota DNR as a Conservation Officer and stationed in Redwood Falls, MN. It was here that he met and married Rita Mineer of Winnebago, MN in 1970. In 1973 he transferred to a newly opened station in Evansville, MN where he and his family lived for 23 years. James was a member of the Evansville Fire Department, the Evansville Legion and a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville where he sang in the church choir and the quartet, Faith Notes. In 1997 they moved to their new home on Clitherall Lake in Battle Lake, MN. He retired in 1998 after 30 years with the DNR.
Upon retirement, Jim volunteered at the Prairie Wetland Learning Center in Fergus Falls, helping teach and lead discovery hikes. It was here that he learned a new passion …native flower gardening. Jim was also an avid hunter and fisherman and loved taking his granddaughters sunfish fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerhard and Eunice Loftness.
Jim is survived by his wife, Rita and two children; Anne (Greg) Oldakowski of Wadena, MN and Matt (Krista) Loftness of Tracy, MN. He has three precious granddaughters, Kelanie and Lydia Oldakowski and Aliyah Loftness. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Suzanne and John Gilman of Green Bay, WI and a brother-in-law, Lynn Mineer and wife Donna of Walker, MN.
Memorial Gathering: Friday, June 17, from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m., at the Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville.
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 17, at Faith Lutheran Church.
Clergy: Pastor Dennis Preston
Interment: Mound Grove Cemetery, Evansville
Military Honors by the American Legion Post 188 of Evansville
Funeral arrangements are with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Evansville.
Jim's Memorial Folder
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