John Dennis Loeffler

January 15, 1932 – December 9, 2022

John Dennis Loeffler was born to John William Albert Loeffler and Genevieve “Dolly” Loeffler (nee Behnke) in Watertown, Wisconsin on January 15, 1932. At home he went by “Dennis” so he and his father would know who was being called when they heard “Johnny!” Dad had a textbook Midwestern upbringing, going to school, working at his grandparents’ greenhouse, and attending services at St. Henry’s Episcopal Church on Sundays.

After high school Dad was admitted to the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he obtained his B.A. in Medical Science (1954), married Norma Arlene Smith (1956) and was awarded his M.D. (1958). Then he was off to Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis for three years, two as a resident and one as a Fellow in Neurology. The US Army then invited him to spend a couple years (October 1962 – October 1964) at Martin Army Hospital at Ft. Benning, where rumor has it, he didn’t like wearing his hat. Somehow, between med school and the Army he and Norma had the time and energy to have two children, son Bill, followed by daughter Leslie - both survive him.

Despite not wearing his hat, he was honorably discharged, whereupon he packed up the car, wife and kids and departed for the medical center at UC San Francisco. While there he was introduced to a young neurosurgeon named John Darroch and in 1966 was convinced to move to Modesto and enter practice together. Initially their offices were in Sealy Tower but on July 10, 1969 they broke ground for their new offices at the Downey Park Professional Center where they spent long hours over several decades tending to their patients.

Dennis and Norma divorced in 1969 but his bachelor days were not long as one day while on rounds at Doctor’s Hospital, he met a nurse, Peggy Collins (nee Enright). He and Peggy married in 1974 and the family grew to include Peggy’s 5 daughters, Marilyn, Joanne, Suzanne, Nancy and Judy – all of whom survive him. He is also survived by his sister Llani, along with many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

In the rare moments when he was not attending to his patients, he enjoyed working with stained glass, doing extensive genealogical research, travel, collecting books and reading (and reading and reading) … and peach yogurt, with lots of whipped cream (demonstration to occur at the funeral).

Dad passed away on December 9, 2022 in his Sacramento home and re-joined his wife of 45 years, Margaret “Peggy” Loeffler, who passed in the Modesto family home on July 1, 2019.

We will all miss him greatly.

A gathering of family and friends at Lakewood Funeral Home on January 6, 2023 is being arranged. Details will be posted when known.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LakewoodHughson.com for the Loeffler family.