Joseph Edward "Joe" Loebach

Joe E. Loebach of Algona, formerly of Burt, passed away Saturday, July 5, at Good Samaritan Care Center. Joe's family will welcome visitors at Lentz Funeral Home in Algona on Sunday, July 20, 2025, with a public rosary beginning at 2:00 p.m. and the visitation running until 4:00. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Divine Mercy Catholic Parish - St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bancroft. Mass will be live streamed via Lentz Funeral Home's website. Inurnment will take place at a later date at the Iowa Veteran's Cemetery in Adel. Services have been entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home of Algona. Online condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com.
Joseph Edward Loebach was born in 1940, the first of six children of Joseph and Isabelle ("Tim") Kain Loebach of rural Whittemore. Except for his stint in the Army, Joe lived his entire life within Kossuth County. Joe graduated from Presentation Academy in Whittemore and earned an AA from Iowa Lakes Community College on the GI Bill. Joe married Ruth Ann Klein of rural Irvington on July 6, 1963, in St. Joe's Catholic Church in St. Joe. The couple farmed and raised seven children on an acreage east of Burt, Iowa. Growing up in Whittemore, Joe worked for Elbert's Hardware and learned skills that served him well. In the Army and living in Washington DC, Joe helped pipe in the gas for JFK's eternal flame; and, while serving as the electrician for a hospital base in Thailand, Joe was recruited by Bob Hope to teach his road crew how to effectively wire generators together for Hope's USO tours. Joe joined Hope's tour for a couple of weeks before being flown back to base by helicopter. Joe's family notes that he was such an adept instructor that he succeeded in talking them through minor home electrical projects over the phone.
Joe was an innovator and storyteller. Not only was Joe one of the first farmers in the area to implement low-till farming, he and Ruth Ann put up one of the first private, home-use wind turbines in the Midwest to generate their electricity. Joe, partnered with his brother Dave, holds a patent for a grain-drying system that preserves the grain's germ. Joe taught his children and grandchildren through storytelling; he fostered their curiosity about Iowa's natural heritage by trips to Union Slough and identifying native plants in ditches. Joe also enjoyed sharing family stories and, in a book dedicated to his son Tony and granddaughter Megan, recounted the history of the Irish side of the family. Joe and Ruth Ann donated a copy of this book, "The Kains of Kossuth County," to every school and library in the county.
In addition to being a farmer, electrician, and father, Joe was a 4H leader, proud Pork Producer, member of St. John's choir, and active member of the Kossuth County Democrats. He received awards for his decades of running the hog barn for the Kossuth County Fair and his years being a 4H leader. In 2024, Joe established permanent scholarships in nursing and wind energy at Iowa Lakes CC, North Iowa Area CC, and Iowa Central CC; these six scholarships carry on Joe and Ruth Ann's commitment to the environment and community.
Joe's grandchildren will remember Grandpa Joe making soup and teaching them to play card games like euchre, pinochle, and canasta. Joe was an aggressive bidder and formidable opponent – it was much better to be his partner than on the opposing team. A win against Grandpa Joe was a win indeed!
Joe passed away the day before what would have been Ruth Ann and his 62nd anniversary; the family is grateful they would be able to spend that day together. Left to tell Grandpa Joe stories and play pinochle are Joseph (Julie) Wetherell of San Diego, CA, and sons Peter and Kevin; Mary Ann (William) Riesen of Mason City, and children Nicholas of Ames, Anthony (partner Dee Bruns) of Mason City, Anna (Devon) Nachtman of Rowley, IA, and Jacob of Mason City; Jeanette Bosveld and child Alex of Marshall, MN; Susie Loebach Tucker (Tony's widow) of Moline, IL; Ed (Melissa) Loebach of Racine, WI; Eugene (Amelia) Loebach of Burt, IA, and daughter Marian (Theodore) Rockelman and her daughter Astria Bauer of Millville, NJ; and, Pat (Erin) Loebach and children Bella and Alex of Ames. Also remembering Joe are his siblings John Loebach of Algona; Mary Timmers of Atlanta, GA; Dave Loebach of Nampa, ID; Ann (Thom) Schwetye of Clayton, MO; and Leonard (Dianne) Loebach of Whittemore; as well as brothers-in-law Stanley (Pam) Klein of LuVerne, IA, and Norman (Jean) Klein of Lubbock, TX; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. On hand to welcome Joe to heaven are his wife Ruth Ann, son Anthony Loebach, and granddaughter Megan Wetherell, as well as his parents, Joe and Tim, and hosts of family and friends.