Norman Loseke

Norman H Loseke: long time District Manager for GTE at Columbus, died October 21 at Columbus Care & Rehab Center.

Norman H. Loseke was born in 1924 on a farm in Colfax County, south of Leigh Nebraska; the son of Oscar and Pauline (Cattau) Loseke. He attended elementary school at Christ Lutheran school in Platte County and District 41 in Colfax County. After his parents moved to a farm north of Columbus, he attended District 10 High School and graduated from Kramer High School in Columbus in 1942

Prior to entering military service in 1943 he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and taught Sunday School. After his return from military service he joined St. Bonaventure Church. While a member of St. Bonaventure church, he was an active member and officer in the Holy Name Society, volunteered as a church usher for 15 years, and also participated in evening perpetual adoration for 41 years.

Mr. Loseke enlisted in the United States Marines in August of 1943. He received his basic training at the Marine base at San Diego, California where he was assigned to Field Telephone Communications. Norman served overseas with the 9th AAA on Guam, the island of Rota in the Marianas and various islands in the Carolines. He was part of a detachment of the battalion that was assigned to the island of Kwajalein to serve as an SP unit on the island. Kwajalein was the headquarters for the second series of atom bomb tests. He received his honorable discharge in May,1946, and began his telephone career one month later. Norman started as a Cable-Splicer, and moved up through several positions eventually ending his career as a District Manager with GTE in Columbus when he retired in 1980.

Norman married Leona Iwanski in June of 1947. They had four children:
Sharon Cech, Omaha, Ne, son Darren Cech
Dana, Sioux Falls, SD, wife Michelle and children Rachel Loseke and Joshua Loseke
Cindy Thorne, Lake Ozark, Mo, husband Steve, and children Mike Beecher and Ben Beecher
Mary Stradley, Columbus, Ne, husband Virgil Stradley, and children Erica Schmidt and Sean Stradley

Norman was active in service to his community, serving as president of Columbus United Way president of Columbus Little League baseball, and president of the Lions Club. He was chosen as LION-OF-THE-YEAR and served as Zone Chairman. He also served as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Agriculture committee, Red Cross drive chairman, and was a two-gallon blood donor. He served as second Vice Commander for the American Legion and on the Legion Boys State selection committee. He was appointed to the Columbus Library board, and served on the Board of Director for Friends of Music, and Platte County Historical Society. He also was a past member of Columbus VFW and Elks club.

Norm was preceded in death by his wife Leona, parents Oscar and Pauline, sisters Ella (John) Pavel, Frieda (Edward) Hetjmanek, and Ester (Verdell) Moeller.