Henry John Loewen Jr. September 14, 1932 November 21, 2017 Henry John Loewen Jr. passed from this life at Foxdale Village, State College, on Tuesday, November 21, 2017. Henry was born to Helen Krger Loewen and Henry John Loewen Sr. in Elverson, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Upper Leacock High School and married his high school sweetheart Virginia Louise Horst on December 19, 1953. At West Chester State Teachers College he earned a B.S. in Music Education; he earned his Master's degree at The Pennsylvania State University. From 1955 to 1986 he taught elementary and junior high school instrumental music in the State College Area School District. After taking a piano tuning course in Chautauqua, N.Y., in 1982, he tuned pianos for 22 years. His musical interests included serving as organist from 1974 to 1994 at the former St. John's United Methodist Church in State College; playing piano duets with daughter Chris; playing trombone or tuba in the Little German Band, the State College Municipal Band, and the Bellefonte Community Band; and singing in the choir at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Hobbies included playing volleyball; playing or umpiring softball; tying his own dry flies and fly-fishing for trout; training and entering beagles in field trials at the Penns Valley Beagle Club; building and flying radio-controlled quarter-scaled model planes as a member of the State College Radio-control Club; rifle and archery hunting; photography; and oil painting. He and Virginia enjoyed traveling and camping in the United States and Canada. A most memorable trip was to Ukraine in 2001 in search of Henry's parents' ancestral village, Freidensfeld (Mirapol). Henry is survived by his wife Virginia H. Loewen; son Michael and wife Kathleen Tibbott Loewen of State College; son Philip and wife Joan Dixon Loewen of Lewistown; daughter Christina and husband Mark Davies of Warrington, Pa.; and brother Arthur Loewen of New Holland, Pa. In addition are grandchildren Benjamin Loewen-Leedy and wife Jennifer of State College; Matthew Loewen of Lewistown; Lisa Davies Berglund and husband Collin of Washington, DC; Steven Davies of Warrington; and James Tibbott of Woodland, Pa. The family will receive visitors on Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 6:00 8:00 pm at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College. A funeral service will be held Friday, December 1, 2017 at 11:00 am at Saint Paul's United Methodist Church, 250 E. College Ave., State College, preceded by a visitation hour at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Henry's name to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 250 E. College Ave., State College, PA 16801. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.
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Dear Virginia and Family: May you find comfort in many memories. I (Harry) have many great memories of: fishing trip to PA. Grand Canyon (a stop in Flemington,PA.at a sports shop to borrow canoe paddles we accidentally forgot; Encouraged me(Harry) to join the church choir; helping him fly his model airplanes; tying flies in our basement; slow-pitch softball, etc. taking our beagles to Aaronsburg to chase bunnies and many more wonderful memories! Lifting prayers for you. The Muthersbaughs - Harry and Roxanna
Harry and Roxanna Muthersbaugh
November 29, 2017
Very warm remembrances, Mr. Loewen. You were an outstanding person, teacher, band director,, musician and so much more. I'm glad to have studied and learned, far more than just music.
Jim Johnson
November 26, 2017
My sincere sympathies to the Loewen families; there was no one like your husband/father/grandfather. Mr. Loewen was my band teacher in elementary school and junior high school, and he is the reason I chose to major in music education in college. He was the person who told my parents that if I planned to major in music education, I would need to learn to play the piano. So he became my first piano teacher and to this day I am grateful as my current position is organist/pianist at my church. Mr. Loewen was patient, kind, and always encouraging - a tremendous role model and mentor. Thank you for sharing him with me all those years ago.
Margaret (Peggy) Spearly Bauer
November 26, 2017
I always appreciated Mr. Loewen's teaching style as a music educator. He asked a lot from us while remaining calm and reasonable. My favorite memory of him is from one of the weekly summer band classes where he had an ensemble of about six of us practice some songs at home and then play them together at our weekly class at Panorama Village school. We had just played a song called "The Foggy, Foggy Dew" in a very uninspired way. He paused a couple of moments at the end of the song and then said, "That sounded more like "The Soggy, Soggy Dew. Let's try that again."
John Johnson
November 26, 2017
Mike.Sorry about your dads passing .Chuck and Irene Mong
November 25, 2017
Virginia and family:
Our condolences on Henry's passing. He is no doubt fly fishing on some quiet stream, now.
Lew & Nancy Rodrick
November 25, 2017
My wife and I remember Mr. Loewen teaching us music. He was a very patient teacher. Sorry to hear of his passing.
Mike & Jeanne Wolford
November 25, 2017
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