Herbert A. Loecher, 91

Published 10:02 am Thursday, May 19, 2016

Herbert A. Loecher, 91, of Austin, Minnesota, died Monday, May 16, 2016, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

Herbert A. Loecher, 91

Herb was born June 22, 1924 in Marrytown, Wisconsin, the son of John and Mary (Theobald) Klapperick. He graduated from Riceville High School in 1942. Herb enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 14, 1943. He served during WWII in France, Germany and Belgium. He received an honorable discharge on December 27, 1945. Herb was honored to be chosen to participate in a WWII Honor Flight in the spring of 2009.

Following military service, he settled in Austin, Minnesota, where he met and married Murl Wignes on November 1, 1947. They shared 67 years together and four children. Herb began his career at Gambles and later went to work for Prudential Insurance as an agent. He retired at the age of 57. Along with his wife Murl, he co-owned Herb and Murl’s Lunch Stand at the Mower County Fair for 55 years. Herb was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church.

He was proud to admit to having a longer retirement than a working career. He enjoyed traveling and spent summers on Mission Lake in Merrifield, Minnesota, and winters in Mission, Texas. Herb enjoyed being with friends and family, especially his many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Murl; daughter Lana Jaeger; his parents; four brothers and one sister.

Herb is survived by his children, Gary (Lynette) Loecher, Austin, Minnesota, Sandra (Mike) Rocca, Naples, Florida, and Barbara (David) Granholm, Austin, Minnesota; 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren; sisters, Mary Cook, Rochester, Minnesota, Marcy Kroupa, Sacramento, California, and Darlene Klapperick, Sacramento, California; nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Monday, May 23, 2016, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Reverend Mark Niethammer officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery with Olaf B. Damm Post No. 1216 VFW in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday and at the church on Monday morning for one hour before the service.

Memorials are preferred to the Mayo Clinic Health Systems Austin Hospice Program or to St. Olaf Lutheran Church.