John L. Loftus, age 82, formerly of Tomah, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 24, 2024, at the Rolling Hills Senior Living in Sparta, Wisconsin. John Lee Loftus was born September 30th, 1941 to John Irvin Loftus and Margaret Mary (Staicar) Loftus in the family’s home in Savanna, Illinois. John always loved the outdoors and at a very young age, he became an expert marksman with his BB gun.
At the age of 9 his family moved from Savanna to Tomah, WI. John quickly acquired new skills fishing on Lake Tomah and the surrounding streams; he graduated to bow and arrows, shotgun, and rifles in pursuit of deer, small game, and waterfowl with his father.
During his high school years, John worked for Keene’s Transfer (a moving company), the bakery, and the dry cleaner and enjoyed setting pins at the bowling alley with his lifelong friend Pete Jensen in Tomah, WI.
After high school, he spent two years working and attending college at UW in La Crosse, where he additionally attended classes on automotive repair. He was ambitious, he worked in a drugstore, and took a job at Gateway trucking. He performed a number of tasks for Howard and Lorraine Dahl and was the caretaker for their boat on the Mississippi River for many a year.
In December of 1962 he married the love of his life Marcia Ann Weiner, where they began their married life in La Crosse, WI.
John served 36 years at Northern States Power (which later became Xcel Energy) and retired on a 45-acre plot near Caledonia, MN that became known as “The Land” and the road leading to this property is now officially named Loftus Road.
John enjoyed sharing his passions with those around him including: hunting, fishing, bowling, golf, singing, and storytelling.
John is preceded in death by his parents: John Irvin Loftus d.1965 and Margaret Mary (Staicar) Loftus d.1998 and sister Marge Miller d.2010, brother-in-law Jim Miller, and nephew Timmothy Miller, brother-in-law Fred Weiner, nephews Patrick Weiner, and Todd Morris. He is survived by his loving wife Marcia (Weiner) Loftus and three children: daughters Linda J. Zielke (Terry), Joan L. Loftus, and son John T. Loftus (Lisa), seven grandchildren: Damian C. Gouff (Dyan), Cameron J. Gouff, Dillion T. Gouff(Ana), Leah N. Blumburg (Dexter), Nicholas J. Zielke, John M. Loftus, Jason T. Loftus and one great-grandchild Calvin D. Gouff, also is survived by special niece Mary (Miller)Witt and husband Bob, life friend Peter Jensen and his wife Pat, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
Family and friends are invited for visitation on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Parish – St. Mary’s Church located at 303 W. Monroe St, Tomah, WI, a ramp for disabled is to the left of the church between church and school entrances. The Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m and a luncheon will be provided after the service in the basement of the church at approximately 12 noon. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Torkelson Funeral Home
