#1 MARLON G. LOFTIS, 66
(veteran)
Graveside services were Tuesday, February 19 at the Herman Cemetery for Marlon G. Loftis, 66 of Syracuse who died at Community Memorial Hospital in Syracuse February 17, 1991. Rev. David McCreary officiated.
A memorial service, a celebration of life was held at the United Methodist Church in Syracuse Wednesday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
Marlon G. Loftis was born April 19, 1924 in Herman to Floyd and Florence Johns Loftis. The family moved to a farm southeast of Blair in 1928 and then in 1939 to a farm a mile west of the Herman School.
He attended Cruickshank School through eighth grade. He then attended Blair High School through the first semester of his junior year, graduating from Herman High School with the class of 1940.
He entered the military in May, 1945, and served one year in the occupation forces in Germany, first as a Code Room Chief for the third infantry division; then as cryptographer with a Strategic Services Unit, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War Mission to Germany. At the time he left that post, it was being reorganized to become the Central Intelligence Agency.
He was a mechanic and parts man for John Deere dealers in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for many years. While at Pender, Nebraska in 1958, he made the decision to enter full time ministry of the Methodist Church.
He served churches at Crawford Valley/Stark Valley near Plainview, Nebraska from 1958-1961; in Allen from 1961-64; Chester-Hubbell from 1964-71; Giltner-Philips, 1971-80; and Syracuse-Unadilla from 1980-90. He retired at the time of the annual conference in 1989.
He was a past master, Chester Lodge No. 2948, A.F. & A.M.; past president Lions Clubs at Giltner and later at Syracuse; and past president of the Chester Community Club. He also served on several boards and committees in the church, district, and conference; was a charter member of the Nebraska City Apple Corps Chorus and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 55.
He married Ruby E. Theilfoldt at Herman, March 12, 1944.
He was preceded in death by his mother in 1960, his step-mother in 1983, and a sister who died in infancy.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby Loftis of Syracuse; three sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Lisa Loftis, Phoenix, Arizona; Rod and Cindy Loftis, Omaha; and Randy Loftis, Grand Island, Nebraska; five grandsons, Trevor, Andy, John, Ryan and Tanner; one granddaughter, Traci; two great-grandchildren, Amanda and Tyler; his father, Floyd Loftis, Arlington; three sisters, Janice (Mrs. Roy) Trotter, Lincoln, Missouri; Shirley (Mrs. Laverne) Schmidt, Arlington; Iva (Mrs. Ken) Johnson, Fremont; and one brother, Rev. Gene Loftis, Omaha.
Pallbearers were Terry Loftis, Rod Loftis, Randy Loftis, Traci Loftis, Andy Loftis, Jon Loftis and Tanner Loftis.
Fusselman-Roby-Wymore Funeral Home in Syracuse was in charge.
#2 Article published in the Nov. 5, 2016 World Herald by staff writer, Michael Kelley
In the European aftermath of World War II, a 21-year-old Nebraska farm boy—a future Methodist minister, was moved to write about the stunning death and destruction.
“As we passed through the streets,” he wrote, “I got my first real idea of the terrible force that a planeload of bombs must carry.”
He had arrived after America and its allies won the war. But he soon saw wrecked planes, tanks and cars as well as battle-field debris and “whole trains that had been bombed and wrecked and burned…a mass of twisted and rusted stell.”
His name was Marlon Loftis, and he grew up in the town of Herman, 35 moles north of downtown Omaha. In the post-war occupation, he served as a code-room chief and cryptographer.
After his later career as a pastor in Nebraska and Iowa towns, he died at 66 in 1991.
Recently, son Rod Loftis of Omaha for the first time came across what his dad had written as a young man.
“I was blown away,” said Rod, 65, who shared the essay with The World-Herald. “I’ve read it over and over. It sounds just like him.”
The young Marlon Loftis also wrote about agriculture in France and Germany, with vineyards on the sides of mountains, but “no corn to be seen anywhere.” Belgian horses and oxen were everywhere.
As Veterans Day approaches, we honor all who have served in the military, including those who didn’t see combat. It’s clear from the young Marlon’s writing that he honored those who went before him in arms.
“This had been war in all of its reality,” he wrote. “It seemed unbelievable that here on this field so far from home, so many of our boys had fallen, giving their all for what they believed in.”
Hitler’s claim of a super or master race was false, the future pastor observed, adding that America was strong “because we are every race on earth melted into one.”
Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska
***************************************************
(veteran)
Graveside services were Tuesday, February 19 at the Herman Cemetery for Marlon G. Loftis, 66 of Syracuse who died at Community Memorial Hospital in Syracuse February 17, 1991. Rev. David McCreary officiated.
A memorial service, a celebration of life was held at the United Methodist Church in Syracuse Wednesday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
Marlon G. Loftis was born April 19, 1924 in Herman to Floyd and Florence Johns Loftis. The family moved to a farm southeast of Blair in 1928 and then in 1939 to a farm a mile west of the Herman School.
He attended Cruickshank School through eighth grade. He then attended Blair High School through the first semester of his junior year, graduating from Herman High School with the class of 1940.
He entered the military in May, 1945, and served one year in the occupation forces in Germany, first as a Code Room Chief for the third infantry division; then as cryptographer with a Strategic Services Unit, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War Mission to Germany. At the time he left that post, it was being reorganized to become the Central Intelligence Agency.
He was a mechanic and parts man for John Deere dealers in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for many years. While at Pender, Nebraska in 1958, he made the decision to enter full time ministry of the Methodist Church.
He served churches at Crawford Valley/Stark Valley near Plainview, Nebraska from 1958-1961; in Allen from 1961-64; Chester-Hubbell from 1964-71; Giltner-Philips, 1971-80; and Syracuse-Unadilla from 1980-90. He retired at the time of the annual conference in 1989.
He was a past master, Chester Lodge No. 2948, A.F. & A.M.; past president Lions Clubs at Giltner and later at Syracuse; and past president of the Chester Community Club. He also served on several boards and committees in the church, district, and conference; was a charter member of the Nebraska City Apple Corps Chorus and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 55.
He married Ruby E. Theilfoldt at Herman, March 12, 1944.
He was preceded in death by his mother in 1960, his step-mother in 1983, and a sister who died in infancy.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby Loftis of Syracuse; three sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Lisa Loftis, Phoenix, Arizona; Rod and Cindy Loftis, Omaha; and Randy Loftis, Grand Island, Nebraska; five grandsons, Trevor, Andy, John, Ryan and Tanner; one granddaughter, Traci; two great-grandchildren, Amanda and Tyler; his father, Floyd Loftis, Arlington; three sisters, Janice (Mrs. Roy) Trotter, Lincoln, Missouri; Shirley (Mrs. Laverne) Schmidt, Arlington; Iva (Mrs. Ken) Johnson, Fremont; and one brother, Rev. Gene Loftis, Omaha.
Pallbearers were Terry Loftis, Rod Loftis, Randy Loftis, Traci Loftis, Andy Loftis, Jon Loftis and Tanner Loftis.
Fusselman-Roby-Wymore Funeral Home in Syracuse was in charge.
#2 Article published in the Nov. 5, 2016 World Herald by staff writer, Michael Kelley
In the European aftermath of World War II, a 21-year-old Nebraska farm boy—a future Methodist minister, was moved to write about the stunning death and destruction.
“As we passed through the streets,” he wrote, “I got my first real idea of the terrible force that a planeload of bombs must carry.”
He had arrived after America and its allies won the war. But he soon saw wrecked planes, tanks and cars as well as battle-field debris and “whole trains that had been bombed and wrecked and burned…a mass of twisted and rusted stell.”
His name was Marlon Loftis, and he grew up in the town of Herman, 35 moles north of downtown Omaha. In the post-war occupation, he served as a code-room chief and cryptographer.
After his later career as a pastor in Nebraska and Iowa towns, he died at 66 in 1991.
Recently, son Rod Loftis of Omaha for the first time came across what his dad had written as a young man.
“I was blown away,” said Rod, 65, who shared the essay with The World-Herald. “I’ve read it over and over. It sounds just like him.”
The young Marlon Loftis also wrote about agriculture in France and Germany, with vineyards on the sides of mountains, but “no corn to be seen anywhere.” Belgian horses and oxen were everywhere.
As Veterans Day approaches, we honor all who have served in the military, including those who didn’t see combat. It’s clear from the young Marlon’s writing that he honored those who went before him in arms.
“This had been war in all of its reality,” he wrote. “It seemed unbelievable that here on this field so far from home, so many of our boys had fallen, giving their all for what they believed in.”
Hitler’s claim of a super or master race was false, the future pastor observed, adding that America was strong “because we are every race on earth melted into one.”
Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska
***************************************************
#1 MARLON G. LOFTIS, 66
(veteran)
Graveside services were Tuesday, February 19 at the Herman Cemetery for Marlon G. Loftis, 66 of Syracuse who died at Community Memorial Hospital in Syracuse February 17, 1991. Rev. David McCreary officiated.
A memorial service, a celebration of life was held at the United Methodist Church in Syracuse Wednesday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
Marlon G. Loftis was born April 19, 1924 in Herman to Floyd and Florence Johns Loftis. The family moved to a farm southeast of Blair in 1928 and then in 1939 to a farm a mile west of the Herman School.
He attended Cruickshank School through eighth grade. He then attended Blair High School through the first semester of his junior year, graduating from Herman High School with the class of 1940.
He entered the military in May, 1945, and served one year in the occupation forces in Germany, first as a Code Room Chief for the third infantry division; then as cryptographer with a Strategic Services Unit, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War Mission to Germany. At the time he left that post, it was being reorganized to become the Central Intelligence Agency.
He was a mechanic and parts man for John Deere dealers in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for many years. While at Pender, Nebraska in 1958, he made the decision to enter full time ministry of the Methodist Church.
He served churches at Crawford Valley/Stark Valley near Plainview, Nebraska from 1958-1961; in Allen from 1961-64; Chester-Hubbell from 1964-71; Giltner-Philips, 1971-80; and Syracuse-Unadilla from 1980-90. He retired at the time of the annual conference in 1989.
He was a past master, Chester Lodge No. 2948, A.F. & A.M.; past president Lions Clubs at Giltner and later at Syracuse; and past president of the Chester Community Club. He also served on several boards and committees in the church, district, and conference; was a charter member of the Nebraska City Apple Corps Chorus and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 55.
He married Ruby E. Theilfoldt at Herman, March 12, 1944.
He was preceded in death by his mother in 1960, his step-mother in 1983, and a sister who died in infancy.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby Loftis of Syracuse; three sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Lisa Loftis, Phoenix, Arizona; Rod and Cindy Loftis, Omaha; and Randy Loftis, Grand Island, Nebraska; five grandsons, Trevor, Andy, John, Ryan and Tanner; one granddaughter, Traci; two great-grandchildren, Amanda and Tyler; his father, Floyd Loftis, Arlington; three sisters, Janice (Mrs. Roy) Trotter, Lincoln, Missouri; Shirley (Mrs. Laverne) Schmidt, Arlington; Iva (Mrs. Ken) Johnson, Fremont; and one brother, Rev. Gene Loftis, Omaha.
Pallbearers were Terry Loftis, Rod Loftis, Randy Loftis, Traci Loftis, Andy Loftis, Jon Loftis and Tanner Loftis.
Fusselman-Roby-Wymore Funeral Home in Syracuse was in charge.
#2 Article published in the Nov. 5, 2016 World Herald by staff writer, Michael Kelley
In the European aftermath of World War II, a 21-year-old Nebraska farm boy—a future Methodist minister, was moved to write about the stunning death and destruction.
“As we passed through the streets,” he wrote, “I got my first real idea of the terrible force that a planeload of bombs must carry.”
He had arrived after America and its allies won the war. But he soon saw wrecked planes, tanks and cars as well as battle-field debris and “whole trains that had been bombed and wrecked and burned…a mass of twisted and rusted stell.”
His name was Marlon Loftis, and he grew up in the town of Herman, 35 moles north of downtown Omaha. In the post-war occupation, he served as a code-room chief and cryptographer.
After his later career as a pastor in Nebraska and Iowa towns, he died at 66 in 1991.
Recently, son Rod Loftis of Omaha for the first time came across what his dad had written as a young man.
“I was blown away,” said Rod, 65, who shared the essay with The World-Herald. “I’ve read it over and over. It sounds just like him.”
The young Marlon Loftis also wrote about agriculture in France and Germany, with vineyards on the sides of mountains, but “no corn to be seen anywhere.” Belgian horses and oxen were everywhere.
As Veterans Day approaches, we honor all who have served in the military, including those who didn’t see combat. It’s clear from the young Marlon’s writing that he honored those who went before him in arms.
“This had been war in all of its reality,” he wrote. “It seemed unbelievable that here on this field so far from home, so many of our boys had fallen, giving their all for what they believed in.”
Hitler’s claim of a super or master race was false, the future pastor observed, adding that America was strong “because we are every race on earth melted into one.”
Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska
***************************************************
(veteran)
Graveside services were Tuesday, February 19 at the Herman Cemetery for Marlon G. Loftis, 66 of Syracuse who died at Community Memorial Hospital in Syracuse February 17, 1991. Rev. David McCreary officiated.
A memorial service, a celebration of life was held at the United Methodist Church in Syracuse Wednesday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
Marlon G. Loftis was born April 19, 1924 in Herman to Floyd and Florence Johns Loftis. The family moved to a farm southeast of Blair in 1928 and then in 1939 to a farm a mile west of the Herman School.
He attended Cruickshank School through eighth grade. He then attended Blair High School through the first semester of his junior year, graduating from Herman High School with the class of 1940.
He entered the military in May, 1945, and served one year in the occupation forces in Germany, first as a Code Room Chief for the third infantry division; then as cryptographer with a Strategic Services Unit, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War Mission to Germany. At the time he left that post, it was being reorganized to become the Central Intelligence Agency.
He was a mechanic and parts man for John Deere dealers in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for many years. While at Pender, Nebraska in 1958, he made the decision to enter full time ministry of the Methodist Church.
He served churches at Crawford Valley/Stark Valley near Plainview, Nebraska from 1958-1961; in Allen from 1961-64; Chester-Hubbell from 1964-71; Giltner-Philips, 1971-80; and Syracuse-Unadilla from 1980-90. He retired at the time of the annual conference in 1989.
He was a past master, Chester Lodge No. 2948, A.F. & A.M.; past president Lions Clubs at Giltner and later at Syracuse; and past president of the Chester Community Club. He also served on several boards and committees in the church, district, and conference; was a charter member of the Nebraska City Apple Corps Chorus and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 55.
He married Ruby E. Theilfoldt at Herman, March 12, 1944.
He was preceded in death by his mother in 1960, his step-mother in 1983, and a sister who died in infancy.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby Loftis of Syracuse; three sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Lisa Loftis, Phoenix, Arizona; Rod and Cindy Loftis, Omaha; and Randy Loftis, Grand Island, Nebraska; five grandsons, Trevor, Andy, John, Ryan and Tanner; one granddaughter, Traci; two great-grandchildren, Amanda and Tyler; his father, Floyd Loftis, Arlington; three sisters, Janice (Mrs. Roy) Trotter, Lincoln, Missouri; Shirley (Mrs. Laverne) Schmidt, Arlington; Iva (Mrs. Ken) Johnson, Fremont; and one brother, Rev. Gene Loftis, Omaha.
Pallbearers were Terry Loftis, Rod Loftis, Randy Loftis, Traci Loftis, Andy Loftis, Jon Loftis and Tanner Loftis.
Fusselman-Roby-Wymore Funeral Home in Syracuse was in charge.
#2 Article published in the Nov. 5, 2016 World Herald by staff writer, Michael Kelley
In the European aftermath of World War II, a 21-year-old Nebraska farm boy—a future Methodist minister, was moved to write about the stunning death and destruction.
“As we passed through the streets,” he wrote, “I got my first real idea of the terrible force that a planeload of bombs must carry.”
He had arrived after America and its allies won the war. But he soon saw wrecked planes, tanks and cars as well as battle-field debris and “whole trains that had been bombed and wrecked and burned…a mass of twisted and rusted stell.”
His name was Marlon Loftis, and he grew up in the town of Herman, 35 moles north of downtown Omaha. In the post-war occupation, he served as a code-room chief and cryptographer.
After his later career as a pastor in Nebraska and Iowa towns, he died at 66 in 1991.
Recently, son Rod Loftis of Omaha for the first time came across what his dad had written as a young man.
“I was blown away,” said Rod, 65, who shared the essay with The World-Herald. “I’ve read it over and over. It sounds just like him.”
The young Marlon Loftis also wrote about agriculture in France and Germany, with vineyards on the sides of mountains, but “no corn to be seen anywhere.” Belgian horses and oxen were everywhere.
As Veterans Day approaches, we honor all who have served in the military, including those who didn’t see combat. It’s clear from the young Marlon’s writing that he honored those who went before him in arms.
“This had been war in all of its reality,” he wrote. “It seemed unbelievable that here on this field so far from home, so many of our boys had fallen, giving their all for what they believed in.”
Hitler’s claim of a super or master race was false, the future pastor observed, adding that America was strong “because we are every race on earth melted into one.”
Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska
***************************************************
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