Thomas Joseph Loftus

Tom was born on April 7, 1937 to Thomas Loftus and Anna (Mushill) Loftus in Madison, Illinois where he graduated from Madison High School in 1955. After serving his country in the Navy for four years, Tom married his wife of 61 years, Lois Rickert on September 5, 1959. During this same time, Tom began his long career with Dow Chemical Company and attended night school at Southern Illinois University to obtain his degree in 1971 in Chemical Engineering.

Months after graduating, Tom and Lois moved their family to Lake Jackson, Texas. Tom immediately became very active in the Lake Jackson community: coaching a Little League Team for almost 10 years; helped build houses with Habitat for Humanity, assisted in bringing youth soccer to Southern Brazoria County and by working with the Boy Scouts. He became a key member of the St. Michael’s Catholic Church serving on the Financial Board, was in several leadership roles in the Knights of Columbus, helped to manage church and rectory expansions/renovations, worked with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), and served on numerous ministries as an usher, lecturer, choir member, and Extraordinary Minister.

He retired after more than 35 years of service with Dow Chemical; two of those years were in Brazil. Upon retirement, Tom and Lois began their journey to visit all 50 states and to travel the worId. He made the comment recently, that they had visited all seven continents and all but two states. In his “free” time, you could find Tom in his garage woodshop, on the golf course, or bowling.

Tom is survived by his wife, Lois; his children: Eileen Cowart and husband, Grady of Lubbock TX; Thomas Loftus and wife, Laura of Sweeny, TX, Terry Loftus and wife, Robin of Lake Jackson, TX and Tim Loftus and wife, Cindy of Fulton, MO; his sister, Patricia Fultz and brother, William Loftus of Granite City, Il

“Grandpa” will be missed by his 10 grandchildren: Ashley Johnson, Joshua Loftus, Krystin Herns, Kristopher Cowart, Thomas Loftus, Colin Cowart, Benjamin Loftus, Lawrence Loftus, Timothy Loftus and Shelby Loftus and nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Raymond Loftus; sister, Paula Borg and grandson, Raymond Loftus.

Visitation will be held a St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Thursday, December 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with rosary immediately following. A funeral mass at St Michael’s will be held Friday, December 4 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made to St. Vincent de Paul of St. Michael’s.

A special thank you from the family who assisted us during the last few years including: Angel Care, HELP, Inc., A-Med Hospice, all of our doctors and nurses, some very special neighbors, and to an angel named, Erica.