John Michael Loftus' Obituary
John Michael Loftus, 88, of Trinity, FL, passed away on March 2, 2025. He was born on July 3, 1936, in Chicago Illinois, to Michael and Eleanor Loftus, one of two siblings born to the couple, with his younger sister Kathy. He lived in Chicago for the first 34 years of his life, attending primary school at Our Lady of the Angels, followed by St. Phillips High School. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served on the USS Randolph Aircraft Carrier from 1957-1959. In 1970 he relocated from Chicago to Colorado and married his great love, Judith Hall, on September 26, 1970. The couple started a family together with the births of their daughter Jennifer in 1972 and then their son Daniel two years later. John and Judy remained in Colorado, first in Greeley, then in Estes Park for 43 years, before retiring to Florida in 2014.
John enjoyed a 36-year career as a Customer Engineer with IBM. During this time, he received numerous business and technical certifications. Never one to stay idle for long, he continued working after his retirement from IBM, starting his own glass repair business, Chips Away, and then turning his love and talent for woodworking into a second business enterprise, Once a Tree. When he was not working, John could often be found outdoors, hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing. He enjoyed playing billiards and loved a good book. A practicing Catholic, he maintained a spiritual connection which could be seen in the positive way he touched the lives of others. He will be remembered as a kind, fun-loving, creative, and honest man, who was always smiling and always ready for an adventure.
John is survived by his loving wife of nearly 55 years Judith Loftus; his daughter Jennifer Jesseph (Barrett) and son Daniel Loftus (Annie); his grandchildren Benjamin and Noah Jesseph and Brady and Logan Loftus; and his sister Kathleen Machul (Terry). He was preceded in death by his parents Michael Joseph Loftus and Eleanor Marie (Harrison) Loftus.
Donations may be made in John’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) and Gulfside Hospice (gulfside.org/make-a-gift.html).
A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on March 22, 2025, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, to be immediately followed by a reception to celebrate John's life. Further details may be found on the events tab of this memorial page.
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