Deacon David Peter Loecke

Deacon David Peter Loecke, 75, passed away suddenly at his home on Friday, November 17, 2023. He was born on April 8, 1948, in Dubuque, the son of Frank and Ann (Gaul) Loecke.  Dave was raised on the family farm west of Worthington and attended St. Paul’s School in Worthington. He graduated with the last graduating class of 1966.   Dave then enlisted in the United States Army and served honorably in Vietnam from February 8, 1968, to October 5, 1969, with the 18th Engineer Brigade.

On February 20, 1971, Dave was united in marriage to Janice Graham at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Placid, Iowa. Four sons Don, Steve, Terry, and Matt were born to this union. Dave worked as a feed and oil truck driver and served as the St. Paul’s Parish and School custodian. In 1976 the family moved to Manchester and started D and J Construction, building homes in the area.  Along the way, he earned his BA in Business from Upper Iowa University. In 1983, he started the Loecke Building Service Inc. and retired in 2013.

Dave was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church, serving as a Deacon for many years. In this role, Dave humbly served the church community, spending countless hours in faith formation, supporting parish initiatives, celebrating weddings and baptisms, and leading prayer services and funerals. Dave found all of this to be very gratifying.  

He was active in the Jaycees Service Organization from 1974 to 1980, serving as State President in 1979.  Dave was a Little League coach and a member of the Manchester Little League Board and the West Delaware Booster Club. Dave enjoyed traveling, biking, and hiking and was a longtime Iowa Hawkeye football season ticket holder, which he enjoyed sharing with family and friends. Above all else, Dave especially loved his family and enjoyed spending time watching his grandkids activities and cheering on local sports teams.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Janice Loecke; four sons, Don (Debbie) Loecke of Manchester, Steve (Jodi) Loecke of Windsor, Colorado, Terry (Amy Burgin) Loecke of Lawrence, Kansas, and Matt (Jessica) Loecke of Ames; 12 grandchildren, Abby, Sam, and Kate Loecke, Will, Matt, Joe, and Ben Loecke, Ada and Zara Burgin, and Eliza, Zachary, and Mae Loecke; six siblings, Doris Tucker, Ruth (Dick) Heims-Welch, Walter (Kay) Loecke, Rose Ann (Jerry) Krogman, Marian Peters, and Angela Loecke; a special sister-in-law, Lois Loecke; and sisters-and -brothers-in-law, Suzanne (Leo) McDermott, Jack (Kathy) Graham, Nancy (Mark) Breitbach, Pat Graham, and Cathy (Diane) Graham.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Verna Mae Roling; two brothers, Ralph Loecke, and Ben (Joan) Loecke; and in-laws, Joe Tucker, Sara Graham, and Gilbert Heims.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed at http://blessedtrinitycluster.com/livestream-mass

Memorials may be directed to the St. Mary Education Endowment Fund.

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