Jean Loichinger

Loichinger, Jean

MADISON - Jean passed away on Dec. 25, 2020, at the age of 88, surrounded by family. Jean was born in Elmhurst, Ill., on Dec. 2, 2020, the daughter of Paul and Emma Goltermann. She grew up in and attended high school in Elmhurst, and then went to Elmhurst College, where she met her husband of 67 years, Fred A. Loichinger. Together they raised three children, Bob, Dawn, and Dan. Jean and Fred enjoyed living and raising their family in various cities all over the country as they followed Fred's career as a mechanical engineer. Jean enjoyed spending time with family and friends, reading, gardening, sewing, cooking, and volunteering in the communities where they lived.

Jean is remembered by friends and family as caring, outgoing, supportive, strong and loving. She found so much joy and gratitude in every interaction with family and friends, all of whom she loved and adored. She understood the importance of contributing to the world and living with faith. Wherever she and her husband were living, they found a church to attend and built lasting friendships with others in Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Utah, California, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. She and Fred also had the opportunity to live in Mexico, Iran and Israel, where she embraced the culture, traditions and people she met on the journey. She showed us how to live fully in grace, and in the power and beauty that is always around us. Over the last 20 years she coped magnificently with worsening vision and blindness. Even in times of struggle and death, she turned her attention to gratitude.

Jean is survived by her husband, Fred A. Loichinger; and children, Dawn (Dean) Krahn and Dan (Lisa) Loichinger. Fred and Jean's son, Bob, preceded her in death along with her parents; an two brothers, John and Paul Goltermann. She is also survived by her many grandchildren and their spouses, Erin Loichinger, Megan Loichinger, Ellen Krahn (Yoshi Kosai), Ben (Morgan) Loichinger, David Krahn (Katie McManus), Kate (Ryan) Duffy, and Patrick Loichinger; along with her great-grandchildren, Natashia, Marcus and Travis Loichinger, Henry Krahn, Charlie Duffy, an Samuel Kosai.

Thank you to the wonderful friends she made at Advent Lutheran Church, at Coventry Village, and in the Madison area over the last 20 years. A special thank you to the compassionate staff of St. Croix Hospice. The family will provide a celebration of life later in 2021.Contributions in memory of Jean can be made to either the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, or Wisconsin Public Radio, organizations that Jean admired and supported.