John Leo Loes

John Leo Loes, age 83 of Alta Vista, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at the Colonial Manor in Elma. John Leo Loes was born April 27, 1929, the son of Leo and Eileen (Hoffman) Loes in Anamosa, IA. He graduated from St. William’s Catholic School in Alta Vista. After graduation, John attended Loras College in Dubuque, IA for two years. On January 31, 1953, John was united in marriage to Mary Mahoney at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Alta Vista. He then entered into the U. S. Army on May 15th the same year, where he served his country during the Korean War until his honorable discharge on May 13, 1955. Upon his return home, John worked for Mahoney Oil Company; shortly thereafter he entered into a partnership with Thomas Mahoney owning the company. In 1985, John established John’s Tire and Auto with his son Brian and retired in 1993. John was very active in his community, serving as a member of the Elma American Legion and a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, where he also served on the parish council. John served on and became President of the New Hampton School Board, and also served on the St. John’s School Board. He was a member of the Alta Vista Commercial Club and served as President on the Alta Vista Centennial Committee; as well as a variety of other community and church committees. John loved people. During family vacations and other outings, it would not be unusual to find John talking and laughing with people he had never met. He enjoyed the outdoors and took his family on many excursions in the United States, camping and picnicking along the way. Later, he taught his daughter-in-laws to fish on his boat in Lake Pippen. John enjoyed dancing to the sounds of the Big Band era, and he and Mary traveled many a Friday or Saturday with their friends to Spillville and other towns to dance. His laughter would fill a room and people would know that John Loes was in the area. One of his treasured activities was the annual golf outing that he shared with his sons and daughter and their children. His grandchildren enjoyed his hugs, whisker rubs, and deep laughter. But, the best legacy that John is leaving is the example he set for his children of his love for his wife. Even though in the last years John was not always able to communicate through words, his love for his wife was evident in the way he would gaze upon her and smile. He was always a gentleman. John’s survivors include the love of his life, Mary, his wife of 59 years; his children, Stephen (Deborah) Loes of Chardin, Ohio; Kevin (Jean) Loes of Mason City; Brian (Marjorie) Loes of Mason City, Mark (Callie) Loes of Olathe, Kansas; Neal (Vickie) Loes of Ames; Mary Beth (Tony) Hamilton of Aurora, Colorado; 14 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Eileen Loes; grandson, Jason Loes; granddaughter, Bridget Loes; his brothers, James (Ramola) Loes and David Loes and his sister Lois (Wayne) Robinson. John touched many lives and he will be remembered in many stories as a loving and faithful husband, father, and grandfather, brother and friend who loved to laugh, dance, share a joke, and help others. Cemetery: Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Alta Vista. Military rites will be provided by Elma American Legion John Frahm Post #597. Memorials may be directed to the family. Visitation will be from4:00-7:00pm on Friday, October 5, 2012 with a 4:30 pm rosary at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma. Visitation will continue at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral mass on Saturday. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 am, on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Alta Vista, IA with Father Steve Garner celebrating.