Donald LeRoy Loose
LOOSE, JOHNSON, ERTZ
Posted By: Stacy Bliesener (email)
Date: 12/8/2014 at 00:09:38
Mr. Donald LeRoy Loose, 86, died Wednesday, September 17, 2014, at Great River Medical Center - Klein Center.
Born December 13, 1927 in Burlington, he was the son of Albert Christian and Helen Elizabeth (Johnson) Loose. On May 18, 1952 he married Phyllis Jean Ertz in Burlington.
Mr. Loose was a 1946 graduate of Burlington High School. He served as a firefighter in the U.S. Marine Corps from September 1946 to August 1948 with duty assignments in California.
Mr. Loose served 42 years as a firefighter for the city of Burlington, rising to the rank of assistant fire chief. He was a serious collector of fire fighter memorabilia and donated his material to the local firefighter museum. Upon retirement, he joined other senior retired firefighters in their ROMEO get-togethers: Retired Old Men Eating Out. He was a member of the Iowa Firefighters Association.
An active member of the First United Church of Christ, Mr. Loose labored many hours maintaining the facility in good working order. He was an avid ham radio enthusiast with advanced certifications and a room full of equipment that kept him in touch with friends across the country, and sometimes the world, well into the night. And when the outdoors called, Mr. Loose and his wife would often be found on their pontoon boat cruising the Mississippi.
Survivors include one nephew, Greg Loose (Sandra) of Spotsylvania, Virginia; one sister-in-law, Joyce (Milvern) Gueldenhaar of Mt. Pleasant; and two nieces, Diane Fleisher of New London and Shelly Henson of Poulsbo, Washington. Also surviving are several great nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Phyllis; his brothers, Harold, Eugene and Dale; and sisters, Margaret and Arline.
The funeral service for Mr. Loose will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 23rd, at First United Church of Christ with Pastor JudyAnn Morse officiating. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the time of service. An honor guard will be provided by the Burlington Fire Department Retirees. Inurnment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery at a later date.
A memorial has been established for First United Church of Christ.
Cremation has been entrusted to Lunning Chapel and will be accorded following the funeral service.
http://www.lunningfuneralchapel.com/obituary/127999/Donald-Loose-of-Burlington-Iowa//
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