Memorial

Rev. Dr. Donald D. Loesch, 87, passed away April 8, 2023. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 11, from 5-7 pm at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel, Cedar Rapids. Funeral service will be at 11 am on Wednesday, April 12 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids. Interment will be private.

Don was born on May 26, 1935 in Holt’s Summit, Missouri and grew up in South Dakota and Missouri. After graduating from St. Paul’s High School and Junior College in Concordia,Missouri in 1955, Don attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1960. During his time there, he served his one year vicarage in Windsor, Ontario Canada. His vicarage allowed him to further refine his pastoral craft and become part of a wonderful community. After many years of preaching and teaching, Don went back to school for his Doctorate in Divinity, which he received from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in 1996. 

From his early childhood, work to support the Christian mission was Don’s calling. Encouraged by his parents and teachers, Don dreamed of being a pastor. He would listen intently to Lutheran Hour speakers on the radio and then spend time preaching to his brothers (and the cows!) when he did chores on the farm. As a teenager, he would accompany his father to neighboring towns to play the organ while his dad preached. 

In the fall of 1954, a new student at Don’s school - Carol Davis - drew his attention. In Don’s words, they became “an item”. For a first date, Don invited Carol to Sunday service on campus. They played tennis and studied together quite often. They shared a lengthy and meaningful courtship. Carol was in school to become a teacher and her teaching took her to Virginia while Don’s kept him in Missouri then took him to Canada. Despite the distance, their love remained strong. For four years, they grew their love through many letters and visits. During his last year at Seminary, Don presented an engagement ring to Carol at Christmas at her parental home in Kansas City (she said YES). In June 1960, Don and Carol were married. For the next six decades, Don and Carol were partners in serving congregations and all people they encountered. 

Don spent most of his life fulfilling his calling to be a Lutheran pastor. He served numerous church families over the years, including: Mt. Calvary Church (Eagle Grove, IA), Trinity Church (Egypt Mills, MO), Immanuel Lutheran (Murphysboro, IL), Immanuel Lutheran (Joplin, MO), Immanuel Lutheran (Lincoln, NE), Immanuel Lutheran (Perryville, MO), Bethany Lutheran (Cedar Rapids, IA), and St. Paul Lutheran (Marion, IA). Don retired several times, but each time his career ended, his calling to serve the Lord brought him back to the pulpit. 

Anyone who met Don knows he loved Jesus and Carol. He cherished going on long walks with his wife, hand-in-hand. He looked forward to going on driving vacations with her. Perhaps what he loved the most was partnering with Carol in worshiping the Lord. While actively serving the Church, Don and Carol were blessed with three children: Steve, Angela, and Maria. Looking at his life, most would describe Don based on his faith and his family. There are a few other traits that help to define Don.

Don had unlimited compassion and consideration. He was a person that seemed to be able to understand your specific situation, feel your specific emotion, and to give you guidance on your specific needs. Putting others first was his first impulse; and he practiced it in every interaction with others.

Don was expert-level at puns. His mind was always working to create a message. Oftentimes his face would twist into a mischievous grin and he would launch a groaner. And then a simple “heh heh” afterward. If he were writing this, he might say he is punstoppable. Heh heh.

Don was a natural teacher. He could take complicated concepts and explain them in a way to make anyone understand. The explanation would be delivered in a manner that invited questions. His demeanor made him approachable on any topic. And everyone from his kids to his congregants to strangers benefited from his ability to impart wisdom.

Don had a great head of hair. And he kept every one of them in place. His weapon of choice was a small, unbreakable comb; and he could often be seen giving the hair a few swipes. He would rather be a minute or two late than to walk in with a mussed hairdo. Don was a fan of order; and that started with his hair.

Don’s superpower was to make people feel heard. When you walked into the room, he would greet you with heart-felt happiness that you were there. When it came time to leave, he would thank you for the fellowship and celebration. In-between, he would ask you about yourself with genuine curiosity. He wanted to know people just to know them. Every interaction with Don made you feel better.

Don was encouraging to all whom he met. In a world that has discouragement around every corner, we need more people like Don. He made you feel like you could do it, no matter what the obstacle. He wanted every person to be the person God created them to be; and to follow their individual vocation. He provided meaningful, insightful suggestions and convinced people that, with God’s help, all things are possible.

Don was almost beyond description. You can’t use just one word to characterize all that he was. He was patient, gentle, humble, clever, prayerful, generous, grateful, and loving. He loved God and he loved his family. He lived a good life and left many behind much richer because of him. Maybe the best word to describe him is “missed”.

Don is survived by his three children, Steve (Lisa) Loesch, Angela (Richard) Pfeil, and Maria (Todd) Wilken; his 11 grandchildren; his 23 great grandchildren; and his siblings Keith Loesch and Ivan Loesch. He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Carol; and his brothers Royce Loesch and Lester Hortter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran School, Cedar Rapids.