Loftis, Steven

(photo)

November 3, 1951 - November 3, 2023

Steven Loftis, passed away at his home in Lincoln, NE, on the day of his 72nd birthday, November 3 2023, following a two-year battle with cancer.

Born in Blair, NE, to Thomas and Helen (Lockhart) Loftis, he spent his first few years on a farm south of Herman, NE, then moved with the family to Ruidoso, NM where he gained a great appreciation for adventure and the out-of-doors. When he was nine years old the family returned to the Tekamah, NE area where he graduated from high school and at age 17 enlisted in military service, initially in the Air Force, eventually becoming an Army officer and helicopter pilot. Following four years of active service he returned to Nebraska and, in addition to his non-military occupations, continued his military career in a variety of part-time capacities with the Army Reserve and Nebraska National Guard. Eventually Steve retired from the military with a career spanning forty years, just six months short of being able to say he spent time in uniform at least some time in six decades.

Upon Steve's return to Nebraska from Army service, in 1974 he enrolled at the University of Nebraska and established his home in Lincoln, where he met and married Linda Draper from Sidney, NE. While a senior at UNL he began work as a CPA with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., now KPMG, eventually moving into private industry, starting with Sam Olson's construction companies, then retiring at Lester Electrical after roughly thirty years of finance and accounting service there. Steve and Linda raised two children and continued to call Lincoln home until the time of his passing.

Along with raising family and his civilian and military careers, Steve tried to stay active in the community. You may have known him as a youth sports coach, assisting with youth programs or on boards and committees of First-Plymouth Church (member for over forty years), various adult leader roles in Boy Scouts, involvement in the Junior Achievement VIP program, Lincoln Southeast High School PTSO, Knolls Country Club member or as a generous donor to the Community Blood Bank (68 gallons). He also served as an Area Office Manager covering most of the state of Nebraska for the Selective Service System, AARP volunteer personal income tax preparer, as well as active involvement with the Lincoln Track Club and Lincoln Marathon, serving as treasurer for several years.

You may also have participated with him at some time during his 45 years of marathoning, triathloning, swimming, biking, and other physical challenges. One of Steve's most noteworthy fitness accomplishments was logging 53,594 running miles. Passive associations included American Institute of CPAs, Nebraska Society of CPAs, USA Triathlon Association, American Legion, US Army Warrant Officers Association, and National Arbor Day Foundation.

Steve completed his Master's Degree at Doane University in 2014 with his daughter Kellie. He and Linda traveled some, often with the kids, and he could say "one beer please" in five languages.

Steve leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Linda; his son, Kyle Loftis, of Omaha with Matt Vrbanac and his 1320Video family; his daughter, Kellie Loftis, of Tempe, AZ with her fiancé, Chris Davis, and their two sons J.C. and Wyatt. Papa (Steven) was JC & Wyatt's favorite person to visit, Papa cherished every minute he spent with his grandsons; brother, Chuck from Blair, NE; numerous nieces and nephews, extended family members, in-laws, his Jade Court and Savannah Pines neighborhood families, and so many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Tom Loftis, of Herman, NE; and his mother and stepfather, Helen Lockhart Loftis Matzen and Norman Matzen of Blair, as well as his mother-in-law and father-in-law Elda Draper and LaVern Draper, of Sidney, NE. Among those significant in Steve's development was his uncle, Max Lockhart, who Steve never met, having died almost ten years before Steve's birth, following his involvement in the Bataan Death March in the Pacific Theater of World War II. In his later years Steve put a great deal of effort into keeping the memory of his uncle Max alive.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held at First-Plymouth Church, 2000 D St., Lincoln, NE, on Saturday, November 18th, at 10 a.m., Monday, November 20th, at 10 a.m. INTERMENT, at Omaha National Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, we would prefer you send memories and photos to loftismemories@gmail.com or a donation to the Tekamah-Herman Foundation, Class of 1969 Scholarship, c/o Sarah Chatt, 940 County Road 31, Tekamah, NE 68061-4011 or HoriSun Hospice Community Foundation 2200 S 40th, Suite 101 Lincoln, NE 68506.

Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery

~~~Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave #261211648