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Terry Loebel Obituary

LOEBEL, Terry P. 71, lost his battle with on-going health issues on Saturday, July 28, 2012. The founder of ValPak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc., passed away at his residence in St. Petersburg. Mr. Loebel was born in Milwaukee, WI, to Doris and Howard Loebel, who preceded him in death. As an unemployed auto worker he moved with his family, wife, Pat (Blanchard) and 2 children, Greg and Kim, to Florida around 1965. He started Valpak, the direct marketing coupon company in a 2 bedroom house in St. Petersburg in 1968. The company eventually grew to distribute more than 20 billion coupons a year throughout the United States and parts of Canada on behalf of more than 60,000 advertisers. At the time he sold the company in 1986, Valpak had already established a strong industry leadership position that it still enjoys under the long time ownership of Cox Target Media. Terry Loebel's Valpak legacy has created jobs for thousands of local residents at the company's headquarters in St. Petersburg in addition to thousands more in Valpak franchise offices across the US and Canada. Mr. Loebel shunned the spotlight but was a generous and sometimes anonymous philanthropist. Locally he had donated his vast collection of 32 black and white vintage photos to the Museum of Fine Arts; he donated defibrillators to the St. Petersburg Police Department; he supported the St. Petersburg Free Clinic and Ruth Eckerd Hall. His list of donations included computers to school systems in California and school buses to a county in Louisiana. Recipients of his generosity stretched from coast to coast. Among Mr. Loebel's hobbies were golfing, tennis and hiking. He was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling. He had a passion for auto racing and was an accomplished race car driver. He is survived by his son, Greg of St. Petersburg; his daughter, Kimberly Loebel Ellison of Tallahassee; 4 grandchildren, Tanner, Ranger and Madison Loebel of Largo and Luke Ellison of Tallahassee; brother, Jack Loebel (Diane) of Brooksville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic (www.stpetersburgfreeclinic.org) or to the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts (http://fine-arts.org). A private celebration of life will be held for family and close friends.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tampa Bay Times from Aug. 3 to Aug. 4, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Terry Loebel

Sponsored by Terry's children...Greg & Kim.

Not sure what to say?





Christine

July 28, 2023

I will always love and missTerry.

Desiree Glowa

July 29, 2019

Thinking about you today as another year goes by. You are missed my dear friend.

Barbara Carrell

May 13, 2013

Greg and Kim so sorry to hear of your father's passing, what a fun loving man he was, and what a great place to work, he made working for a company, how it should be! Will be greatly missed. Miss you guys!

Ron Simpson

August 9, 2012

Terry was one of the nicest guys i ever met. He cared so much about people and his employees. I have so many memories of Terry and the good old Valpak days. I remember the time Terry came in Valpak and started tearing down the wall in Annies office and and Annie came running out. He just came out of the office and told her to get your office remodeled and get all new furniture. I remember playing pinball for hours in his office. All the good Friday the 13ths.
I could go on and on about so many things. My prayers and thoughts are with Kim, Greg and family. This man will be greatly missed. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work at Valpak in the early years when working for Valpak and a great employer really meant something.

Bill Spencer

August 9, 2012

I first met Terry in 1975. I remember when Bud Kalck interviewed me in September of 1975 at the Joe's Creek location, I told Bud I would only stay there for 4 to 5 years and when I got through college I would leave Val-Pak.
I started my first night class in January 1976, I had saved up to pay for tuition and books, but totally forgot about the little stuff like note pads pens and pencils. It was 2:00 in the afternoon when I thought of it and realized I only had about $1.29 in my pocket, so I just figured I'd go asked Darcey (The Receptionist) for a pad and pen before I left work that day. Terry's office door opened up right into the reception area and he saw me looking for Darcey. Terry asked what I needed when he saw me, I told him I was just stopping by to see Darcey. He and told me Darcey had left early that day. Terry asked me want I wanted, so this 19 year old kid came clean and I admitted that I had forgotten the little stuff I needed for school, ….. Terry put down what he was doing and spent about 10 minutes going through file cabinets and desk draws to find note pads pens and pencils for me. I'll never forget that, he told me school was too important and that if I was ever short on any thing to come to him. (I wonder if he ever knew how that small gesture impacted a 19 year old kid?) Isn't it odd how some things just stick with you? I stared at Val-Pak for 20 years....... My thoughts and prayers are with Kim, Greg and family.

Ed Tauber

August 8, 2012

Dear Greg and Kim, your father and I have been close friends for 20 years. I spoke with him two days before his passing and he talked a lot about all of you. We joked and talked about business and politics. And sadly about his many ailments and conditions that finally brought him down. I share with you a deep shock and sadness and great personal loss. We were all blessed by his contributions to our lives and his caring. He cannot be replaced, but he lives on in our memories.

Kathy Dennany

August 6, 2012

I was so sad when I heard the news. I didn't know Terry very well, he was semi retired when I started at Val-Pak leaving Annie in charge...but I do remember some of his silly antics at the Park Street office when he did come and visit. My deepest sympathy to the family...

August 5, 2012

Dear Kim and Gregg,
You have my condolences on your loss. Terry was a good friend to me and every one else at Parkshore. I will be here to help you.
Vincent Barry

Sherry Smith

August 4, 2012

My deepest sympathy to Kim and Greg,
Your dad was such a great guy...We all worked hard for him because he was so fair and generous.
I have a lot of great memories of him, Friday the 13th was always Val-Pak day and all the employess had a pot luck for lunch!
But one of my favorites was one year for halloween he dressed like a picnic table and walked all around the office laughing calling himself Terry Loebel - the table.
He brought a lot of joy to many people and he will always live in our hearts.

Phyllis Silverstein

August 4, 2012

Dear Kim,Greg & Pat...although you may not remember me, but I first met you as little tots as Mom and Dad sat at their dining room table creating ValPak. Seems like a hundred years ago. Kim, I again met you when you lived in the condo on Treasure Island and Danny Kriseman became my SOP. And, again, as fate may have it, Mom turned up living a few doors down from me in the Village and we rekindled our friendship. I value all
these memories of days gone bye. I send you and your families my sincere sympathy. My thoughts are with you. Would love to hear from Mom.
Regards,

Ervin Harr

August 3, 2012

My condolences to those left behind. I remember helping Terry stuff coupons in envelopes years ago. In those days, I never dreamed Terry would be such a tremendous success. He deserved every bit of it.

Margie Visser

August 3, 2012

To Kimberly: My deepest sympathy in the loss of your dear father. It has been many years since seeing you, but have never forgotten how you and my dear friend Grace Zobel were such good friends. Grace went to be with her Lord and Saviour on June 12, 2012, just five months shy of her 100th! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. I will forward the info to Grace's son Henry. From what I have read, your father must have been an inspiration for many...such a good man!

Barbara Fensler

August 3, 2012

My sympathy to the family.

Michael Gemelli

August 3, 2012

My deepest sympathy to Terry's family on their loss. As a long time friend, i know he will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched.

Joann

August 3, 2012

A man who was a credit to his community and a stellar example of achieving the American Dream. Rest in peace, fine man.

Desiree Glowa

August 3, 2012

Terry, your passion for life, your childen, the people close to you, and especially your grand children has been an inspiration to me for many years. My memories with you and your family will be cherished always.

Leon Barry

August 3, 2012

Terry,
It was my pleasure to know you. You live in your children.

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