Dorothy H. Loehr
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Dorothy (Talbot) Hesson Loehr, 89, of Coralville, formerly of Newton, died on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, at her home in Lantern Park in Coralville.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Congregational United Church of Christ, 308 E. Second St. N. in Newton, officiated by Rev. Jessica Petersen-Orwenyo, pastor, and the Rev. David Raymond, retired pastor.
The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, Oct. 10, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton.
Memorials to the Congregational United Church of Christ in Newton may be left at the church on the morning of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home. Memorials also may be mailed to the funeral home. Please add, Attn: Loehr Family on the envelope.
Dorothy the daughter of Don A. and Beulah (Knepper) Talbot, was born on July 11, 1923, in Newton, Iowa. She was a graduate of Newton Senior High School in 1941.
On April 4, 1943, Dorothy was united in marriage with Wayne E. Hesson in Newton, Iowa. Following Wayne’s death in 1958, she was united in marriage with James F. Loehr on September 17, 1972 in Newton, Iowa.
Dorothy was a retired vice-president, secretary and manager of manufacturing of Thombert Inc. in Newton. She also served as director on the industrial plastics firm’s board. Dorothy joined Thombert, Inc. in 1959 and worked her way up, starting as a “Girl Friday,” in that short time. She served as bookkeeper, executive secretary, purchasing agent, and manufacturing manager prior to her becoming vice-president in 1974. Dorothy also was the Chief Negotiator for Thombert in the first union contract negotiations and for several other contracts. In the July 1975 issue of the Business & Industry, The Management — Purchasing Magazine, Dorothy was July’s Iowan of the Month, prompting Business & Industry to permanently change the title from “Man of the Month.
Dorothy was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Newton, served as church organist for many years, and was on the Diaconate Board of the church. Dorothy also had served on Newton’s Mental Health Board and served on the Board of Directors of the Newton Chamber of Commerce. She was a Lifetime member of Newton Chapter No. 100 Order of the Eastern Star. She loved being with her family, she also enjoyed music, playing bridge, and traveling.
Survivors include her children, Bill (Rita) Hesson of Iowa City, Nancy (Bruce W.) Shindel of Rockford, Illinois, Jamie D. (Jerry) Sawin of Newton, Kurt (Chris) Loehr Carmel, California, and Todd (Stephanie) Loehr of Roswell, Georgia; grandchildren, Tyler Gall of Columbus, Wisconsin, Dr. Alan W. (Dr. Tami Rowen) Shindel of San Francisco, Sarah E. (Hameed) Faruqui of Iowa City, Jenessa (Carl) Koedam of Ankeny, Jill Sawin of Windsor Heights, Travis Kouns of Carmel, California, Allison Loehr of Tallahassee, Florida, Ashley Kerwood of Roswell, Georgia, and Thomas Kerwood of Roswell, Georgia; her sister, Marilyn J. (Gene) Kelley of Carthage, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Wayne E. Hesson in 1958; second husband, James F. Loehr in 1972.
