Earl F. Lohr - Winterset

Earl F. Lohr, son of the late Francis Michael and Maude Gibbs Lohr, was born January 6, 1925, in Lucas County, Iowa. He passed away on January 7, 2013, at Winterset Care Center North. A Celebration of Life service was held at the Winterset United Methodist Church on January 19. Interment will be later in the Winterset Garden of Memories Columbarium. Earl graduated from Milo High School in 1942. He attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines for a winter term to learn about advertising since he was involved with cattle shows and sales. At a young age, he purchased his first calf, which became a passion and his life occupation of raising Angus cattle. Often he was called upon to groom and show cattle for other Angus breeders. When almost twenty years of age, his mother revealed to him what the doctor had predicted, that he probably would not grow up to be a young man. In later years, he would laugh and say that he overcame by spending most of his time outdoors riding a horse and caring for cattle. His favorite youth activities were high school sports, roller skating and participating in 4-H. The Warren County Fair and the State Fair were anticipated events. After 4-H, like many young farm people, he became a member of Iowa Rural Youth, an organization sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau and Iowa State College, and that is where he met Wanda. Earl seldom did things in a hurried manner, resulting in their dating several years before he proposed. They were married March 17, 1957. Early in his married life, he was baptized and became an active member of the Winterset United Methodist Church. Earl and Wanda resided on their farm in Webster Township for forty-five years before moving to Winterset in 2002. Living on the land and having a concern for conservation of soil, he served a few years as a commissioner of the Madison County Conservation Service. Regretting the lack of further education he became an avid reader to gain knowledge and understanding. Few people really knew of his deep interest in poetry, literature and philosophy; but those who knew him soon learned of his sharp wit and delightful humor. At heart, he was a cowboy - loved his old hat and preferred to wear cowboy boots to other footwear. Surviving Earl are his wife Wanda; and nieces, Barbara Myers of Broken Arrow, OK, Bonnie Shupe of Ankeny, IA, and Brenda Koger of Malvern, IA. Preceding him in death were his parents; sister, Erma Maxwell; and niece, Beverly Gough. Service: 11:00 AM Saturday January 19, 2013 First United Methodist Church Winterset Visitation: One hour prior to service time on Saturday First United Methodist Church