Donald Walter Loeffler

Don was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 30,1931 to Rupert and Gertrude Loeffler and passed away peacefully on February 7, 2024.

If you asked Don what he did for a living he would tell you he never had to work because he always got to fly! He was an excellent aviator, having aspirations to fly at a young age. He joined the US Air Force toward the end of the Korean War with an initial assignment as a radio operator in Bangor MN. The day Don first saw fighter pilots land their jets and walk in for lunch he thought "I can do that" and he applied for the Cadets. He was accepted and earned his Silver Wings as a United States Air Force jet pilot in 1955, continuing his career flying T33's and F89C's with the Wisconsin Air National Guard. He was later honored to have been selected as an Air Technician Instrument Flight Instructor at Ellington Air Force base in Houston, TX in 1957. Don told stories of either flying his F89 or driving his car from Houston to Wisconsin as often as he could during that time, as the love of his life Pat was in Mukwonago, WI. He moved back to Wisconsin and they married in 1960. He left the Air Force in 1963 and continued his passion for flight in corporate aviation. He flew for Drott Manufacturing Company in Milwaukee, WI and Indianapolis, IN, Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, MI, Sentry Insurance in Stevens Point, WI, First National Bank of New Orleans, Superior Oil in Houston, TX, SimuFlight in Grapevine, TX (where as a flight instructor he once trained a NASA astronaut how to land the Space Shuttle in a Gulfstream G-IV simulator), Tiger Oil Company in Houston, TX and finished his flying days with Service Corporation International in Houston flying a Gulfstream G- IV. When on extended trips overseas, he would send postcards, bring back interesting souvenirs and rearrange his flight plan if necessary so he could fly over our house and tip his wings on his way out.

Don is known and remembered for his giant smile and his great sense of humor. He always loved a good laugh and kept that same sense of humor until the day he left. We will treasure the stories he shared about his life, travels, flying and the countless times he made us laugh. He is preceded in death by his wife Pat, his six brothers, all of his flying buddies and many good friends. He is survived by his son Kevin Loeffler, his wife Lisa and children Madison and Austin Stelling and Meghan Loeffler and her fiance Jared Simmons and Don's daughter Chris Zenner and husband George and children Ramie and Kyle McDonald, George Zenner, IV and Francie Zenner .

Fly high Dad, "Zooms" and "Papa Don", you were a fighter pilot until the end and we love you.

Mass will be held for Don on March 15, 2024 at St. Marthas Catholic Church in Kingwood at 10:30am and burial will be at 1:15 pm at the National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a gift to MD Anderson Cancer Center or consider donating blood and if you can, when you see an airplane overhead, say a prayer for those pilots. Mass Service Friday 15 Mar 10:30 am ~ 11:30 am St. Marthas Catholic Church in Kingwood 702 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339 Graveside Service Friday 15 Mar 1:15 pm ~ 1:45 pm National Cemetery 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive Houston TX 77038