Lawrence Losleben

Dear Dad, In recently discovering that you had kept old letters that we had written to you as children, it seemed one more letter might be a suitable way to reflect on your life. You've been with us for our entire lives, but you had a bit of your own life before we came along. You were born in Anaheim, California, on September 23, 1925, the eighth of nine children. Losing your dad when you were 5 and being raised by your mom during the Great Depression, you and your brothers became industrious out of necessity. That skill stuck with you for the rest of your life. (You kept a clothes dryer working for 40 years!) You joined the Navy during WWII, with dreams of being a fighter pilot like your brother Bill. (It was upon signing up that you discovered the midwife got her way in naming one of the offspring after their father! The name on your birth certificate was George. Your mother had a good chuckle, and you filed for a name change.) The war ended three weeks before getting your wings, but years later you obtained your private pilot's license. Choosing UC-Berkeley after the war ended set the stage for your future. As Mom entered the Newman Center, you recall telling your buddies, "That one's mine!" You and Jeanne Jouvenal were married on May 6, 1950. Then along came Mark, Craig, Denise, and Amy. Since then, your family has expanded to 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Your 34-year career as a statistician with the USDA meant lots of moves: Oregon, Washington, California, Virginia, and finally New Mexico, where you made your home for 52 years. Our childhoods were filled with family camping trips, hiking, fishing, swimming, and exploring nature. We treasure those memories. You set the bar high, Dad. As grown adults heading into retirement, you taught us the value of staying active, volunteering, and having a purpose and reason for getting up each day. When you retired at age 57, your church and social life, apartment rentals, and co-op and soup kitchen volunteering kept you involved, but the highlight was when you and mom bought acreage and decided to become a pecan grower. From nuts to seedlings in our backyard nursery, to a fully productive orchard, you enjoyed the entire learning process. When Mom passed away in 1989, you took many trips exploring the world. Your multi-week freighter cruise was a favorite. You inspired and shaped us in more ways than you could ever know. You led by example, and we sought your advice to the end. We are thankful you were able to live at home until the last 11 weeks, and at almost 92, you beat the odds. You made it, Dad! Now you have discovered what comes next; you said you were looking forward to finding out. Hey, how about some ice cream? With much love from your kids, Mark, Craig, Denise, Amy A Memorial Mass will take place at St. Albert the Great Newman Center, Las Cruces; Saturday, September 23rd, 10:00 am; burial to follow at Masonic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Albert the Great Newman Center or Holy Cross Retreat House, or simply spend time with your loved ones doing whatever makes you happy. PDF Printable Version