Chuck Loftus

Funeral ServiceSaturday, November 10, 20075:00 p.m.with visitation after 4:00 p.m.Ohde Funeral Home, Manning

Officiating

Reverend Marshall Brown

First Presbyterian Church

Manning, Iowa

Music

 Amazing Grace?

How Great Thou Art?

Recordings

Casket Bearers

Amanda Graham     Jessica Graham

Michael Rowedder     Jackie Rowedder

Tammy Anderson     Eric LoftusBrian Loftus

Interment at a Later Date

Manning Cemetery

Manning, Iowa

   Charles Henry, son of Thomas and Amanda (Brown) Loftus, was born March 7, 1919, on the family farm in Belgrade, Nebraska. He attended rural school and then started working on wheat farms from Kansas to South Dakota. When he heard from an acquaintance of good farm work in the Manning area, he moved there. After working on farms for several years, Chuck began working at Dultmeier Manufacturing.

   On November 4, 1939, Chuck was united in marriage with Marjorie Ruhde in Manning. They were the parents of three children and made their home in Manning. Chuck worked at Priebe and Sons Hatchery and worked his way up to manager. When Priebes closed in the 1960s, he was transferred to Raeford, NC, where he was plant superintendent at the largest poultry processing plant in the United States at that time. He was a leader in integration and equal opportunity for all his workers and supervisors. Chucks goal at the time was to have equal representation of Native American, African American and Caucasian in both his workers and supervisors. As a result, he was very respected by his employees. Following his work there, Chuck and his family moved to Storm Lake, Iowa, and then back to North Carolina, both times to work in poultry processing.

   Chuck and Marge then moved to Denison, Iowa, where they operated the Plaza Coffee Shoppe and then Des Moines where he managed Franklin Court Apartments.   Chuck retired for a short time before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, to work at the  Mayerson Academy where educators were trained. He worked full-time until he was 82 years old.

   From 2001 to 2006, Chuck and Marge lived with their daughter in Omaha, Nebraska. He was always happiest when he was fixing something, cooking, lawn mowing or gardening. When he lived in Manning he was a member of the volunteer fire department.

   Chuck was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2003. He and Marge became residents of the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in July of 2006, and he died there quite suddenly on November 7, 2007, at the age of 88 years and 8 months.

   Preceding Chuck in death are his parents; step-brother and sister Roy and Frances; brothers Tom, Art and Elmer Loftus; sister Edie Gilmore; and son-in-law John H. Graham.

   He is survived by his wife Marge Loftus of Manning; three children: Pam Graham of Omaha, NE; Nancy and husband Larry Rowedder of Cheyenne, WY; and Dennis Loftus and wife Carolyn of Newark, DE; seven grandchildren: Amanda and Jessica Graham; Michael Rowedder and wife Gina; Jackie Rowedder; Tammy Anderson; Eric Loftus; and Brian Loftus; five great-grandchildren: Lilly Graham; Alli Rowedder; Jessica Anderson; Lauren and Andrew Loftus; sister Lola Reed of Omaha, NE; three sisters-in-law: Arlene Spack of the Manning Plaza; Dorothy Wiese of Manning; and Virgine Hauseman of Halbur; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.