Irvin Loeffler

Irvin Joseph Loeffler was born in Evansville, Indiana, on August 10, 1924 to Minnie (Waterman) and Joseph Loeffler. He passed away on November 5th, 2015 in Westlake, Ohio. Irv attended Reitz High School where he graduated two months early to attend Purdue University in an accelerated college program. Irv completed his first year at Purdue before enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps in 1942. He was called to active duty in March of 1943 and became an Aviation Cadet. He was graduated from bombardier/navigator school and became a commissioned officer on December 23, 1943. While being prepared for combat in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Irv, then a 19-year-old 2nd Lieutenant, was among three B-26 bombardier-navigators crews selected for their navigational skills to be trained to fly all their missions as formation leaders. The bombardier-navigators would navigate an 18 ship formation to the target area. This required special skills and training, as any errors in navigation or bombing for a whole formation could be extremely costly and dangerous. After completion of his tour of duty which consisted of 55 combat missions, Irv was no longer subject to further combat assignment. He wanted to stay in Europe a while longer, so he accepted an offer for a non-combat position flying VIP personnel. After the war, he returned to Indiana where he continued his education at Purdue University. He graduated in February 1949 with a Bachelor's of Science with honors. He stayed at Purdue for graduate school from 1949 to 1952, graduating with a Master's Degree in Industrial Psychology with honors. During his time at Purdue he was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After graduating from Purdue, Irv worked as an Engineer at the Whirlpool Corporation in Evansville, Indiana, from December 1952 to August 1961. On April 9, 1955 Irv married the love of his life Vera Elizabeth Brandt. On July 26, 1957, their first son Richard Alan was born. A second son, James David, followed on November 17, 1959. In September 1961, Irv began work at the N.A.S.A. Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, so the family relocated to Parma, Ohio. They later moved to Westlake, Ohio. Their third son, Donald Wayne, was born on August 28, 1963. Irv was active for many years with the Boy Scouts of America. He served as Committee Chairman, and later as Cubmaster for Cub Pack 191 of the Westlake United Methodist Church. He later served as Committee Chairman and as Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 208 of Dover Congregational Church in Westlake. Irv was also the founder and Advisor of Explorer Post 208. He spent many hours helping his sons perfect their Pinewood Derby model cars for the annual Pinewood Derby races. After 29 years as an Aeronautical Engineer, Irv retired from N.A.S.A. in January of 1990. He was instrumental in a number of key N.A.S.A. projects during this time. Irv was able to enjoy many things throughout his life. He participated in several bridge clubs with his wife. He volunteered as an usher at Cleveland's Playhouse Square. He created a formula to produce Magic Squares mathematical logic puzzles of any desired size. He taught all of his grandchildren the art of playing checkers. He spent every Easter with his grandchildren coloring Easter eggs for the big Easter egg hunt at their home in Westlake. He dressed up as Santa Claus for his grandkids at Christmas. He attended every dance recital he could where he was able to see his granddaughters develop their skills over the years. He was an avid bird lover, and he particularly enjoyed training his pet parakeets. Irv was predeceased by his parents, Minnie and Joseph; and his younger brother Curtis. He is survived by his wife Vera (nee Brandt); loving father of Richard (Carolyn) of St. Michael, MN, James (Joanne) of Novi, MI, and Donald (Linda) of Parma; grandfather of Kelsey Cheadle (Brian), Mallory and Abby Loeffler, Lauren Loeffler, and Michael and Matthew Loeffler. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44110. Funeral service will be held at the Busch Funeral Home, 21369 Center Ridge Road, Fairview Park, at 2pm on Wednesday, November 25, 2015. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral service. Cremation by Busch. Private Inurnment at Lakewood Park Cemetery. www.buschcares.com 440-333-9774