Jim O. Loehr

Jim Loehr, beloved husband of the late LaVena Coston, and father of the late Joetta Boydston and late Randy Loehr, passed away peacefully in his sleep, just as he had always wished. He is survived by his son, Charles “Rod” Rodney, seven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard Loehr and Mary Wolcott, as well as his seven siblings: William, Leonard, Floyd, Roscoe, Mary, Glenn, and David.

Born in Chariton County, Missouri, Jim grew up with strong family roots and a deep appreciation for life’s simple joys. He met the love of his life, LaVena. They married on February 19, 1955, beginning a sixty-one-year partnership filled with devotion and laughter.

A proud veteran, Jim served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, often joking that he was in the Air Force before it officially existed. His service began a legacy of three generations of military commitment.

Jim worked for the Gas Company for 34 years, faithfully walking his routes to check meters. His daily encounters with neighborhood dogs became a hallmark of his career—he never met one he didn’t like.

Jim cherished the simple pleasures: sitting on the porch on a sunny day, taking leisurely strolls, fishing, gardening, mowing the lawn, and watching local wildlife. He was an avid card player, and family gatherings were never complete without spirited rounds of Pitch—where his team almost always won. He also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, and sharing conversations that often ended with his signature “buh-bye.”

He was a man of routine, starting each morning with coffee and cereal, and a man of connection, delighting in phone calls where he proudly bragged about his loved ones.

Throughout his lifetime, Jim witnessed remarkable changes—from the Great Depression, the Cold War, and Civil Rights movements, seeing rapid technological and social change. Key events include WWI/II entry, the New Deal, Civil Rights Act (1964), Vietnam War, moon landing (1969), and the rise of the digital age (from Computers to smartphones), from the Ford Model T automobiles to self-driving cars. These experiences shaped his deep gratitude for every gift, photograph, and memory shared with him. He survived a global pandemic without contracting COVID, only to humorously note that he caught rubella for the second time in his life.

Though he fell short of his goal to live to 100, Jim’s life was rich in love, laughter, and resilience. His legacy endures in the family he cherished and the lives he touched with his jovial spirit.

Services: Visitation at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 5705 Hwy Z, Edgerton, MO 64444, Tuesday, December 9, at 10 AM – 10:45 AM; then a church service at 11 AM. Interment at Ridgely Community Cemetery 19990-20298 Hwy B, Edgerton, MO 64444.