Robert Lofing

Robert Bob P. Lofing, 74, of Mason City, died Saturday, July 12, 2008 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.  Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at First United Methodist Church, 119 South Georgia, with Rev. Jo Frahm-Watkins officiating.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue from 5 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the church service.  Per Bobs wishes, his body will be cremated and a family burial service will take place at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the Robert Lofing Memorial Fund.
 
Robert was born January 22, 1934 in his house where he resided in Mason City.  He is the son of Philip and Ottilia (Brunsmier) Lofing.  He graduated from Mason City High School in 1952.  Following this, he was drafted by the US Navy, and served on the USS Boxer working in various positions including firefighter during the Korean War.  He was honorably discharged in 1956.  When he returned to Mason City he attended Troy Junior College and played lots of football.  In 1959, Bob was hired by the Mason City Fire Department where he spent 27 years fighting fires, becoming an EMT, and on the diver rescue team.  He earned many promotions including Lieutenant and Fire Inspector.  After retiring from the Fire Department, Bob drove school bus for the Mason City Schools for over 10 years. 
 
He was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.  He was a member of the Firemans Union 633 and the VFW.  He loved golfing with his son, John, fishing in Minnesota and Canada and hunting.  He also enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes play football.
 
In his earlier years he loved training his black labs for field trials, doing so for nearly 15 years.  In 1974, his hard work and determination paid off by winning the Iowa State Derby Championship with his black lab named Sam.
 
If you wanted to find Bob, just go to Perkins.  He had coffee there most days for nearly 25 years, sitting in the same booth.  Family and friends will greatly miss his quirky one liners and funny looks.  We love you. 
 
Left to cherish his memory are his son John Lofing and his wife, Lisa of Mason City; his 4 grandchildren; Jeremy Lofing of Atlanta, Georgia, Victoria, Eric and Brianna Lofing of Mason City; many nieces and nephews including Robert Lemon II of Mason City, Mike Romig and wife Wilma of Manly, Carolyn Gaiser of Nora Springs, and Cristy Knapp and her husband Rick of Nora Springs; his very close coffee friends Erma and Jerry Smith of Mason City and many Perkin employees whove served him through the years. 
 
He was preceeded in death by his parents, a very special aunt, Omie Eberhardt, two sisters, Edna Romig and Frances Lemon; and one brother Eugene Lofing.

Memorials:
Memorials may be directed to the Robert Lofing memorial fund.

Cemetery:
Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery

Visitation:
Visitation will be from 5-8PM on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Major Erickson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the church service.

Service:
2:00 PM, Thursday, July 17, 2008 at First United Methodist Church