Robert Earl Loomans, 97, died Friday, Dec 21, 2018, at Gardenview Assisted Living in Menasha following a brief illness. There will be a private burial service at Holy Angels Cemetery in West Bend.
Robert (Bob) was born in 1921 in Waupun, the son of Franklin and Henrietta (Glewen) Loomans. He was united in marriage to Margaret Rose in 1946 in Stevens Point. They had been neighbors in Stevens Point as children, and started dating after they both moved to Milwaukee.
As a youth, Bob was active in scouting, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and attending the first Badger Boys State. He loved to ski, and often hitched a ride on his uncle's bakery truck to test out ski hills. During World War II, he served in the US Army Air Corps in operations with the 332nd Bomb Squadron in Italy. Following the war, he was employed for several years as a tool designer for International Harvester in Milwaukee, and at Arps Corporation in New Holstein. In the 1950s, he began a 30 year career with John Deere Horicon Works as a design engineer. He did well there, designing some of Deere's first lawn tractors.
Bob was a long-time member of St Malachy Catholic Church and American Legion Post #157 in Horicon before moving to West Bend to live in retirement with Margaret. Bob enjoyed travel, and meticulously mapped many great cross country car trips. He loved a good truck stop breakfast, a challenging game of bridge, horse racing (small bets), and above all, his family. He was quick to smile and set a great example of kindness and humility for all who knew him.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, wife Margaret, and many other relatives and friends. Survivors include children Ellen (Bob) Brousil, Gretchen (Bill) Klug, Anne (Scott) Bemus, Peter Loomans, Paul (Monique Mynlieff) Loomans, and Sue (John Sokol) Loomans, four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
Bob's family is grateful for the compassionate care he was given at Gardenview.