Rob Loftus

     Rob Loftus, age 27, of Lawler, IA, died on Sunday, October 23, 2016, from injuries received in an automobile accident north of Decorah, IA.     A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 27, 2016, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 2940 Iowa Highway 24, Lawler, IA, 52154, with Rev. Kyle Digmann presiding. Burial will be at a later date in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, IA.     Friends may call from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, and also after 10:00 a.m., on Thursday morning at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 2940 Iowa Highway 24, Lawler, IA, 52154.     There will be a scripture service at 7:00 p.m., at the church on Wednesday evening. The Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah is handling the arrangements.      Rob Douglas “Turtle” Loftus was born on May 22, 1989, the son of Mark Douglas and Jeanne (Neuzil) Loftus in Cedar Rapids, IA. Rob attended Cedar Rapids Prairie-College Community School through 2nd grade. He then attended Turkey Valley Schools, graduating in 2008. Rob served in the US Army from September 2008 to December 2011. He served in active duty in Afghanistan from July 2010 – 2011. He returned to Fort Sill, in Lawton, Oklahoma. In January 2012, he was in a serious car accident and recuperated with his mother in Lawler. He lived for a short time with his brother, Drew in Cedar Falls while working at the Americ Inn. He moved to Calmar and went to NICC, graduating with a Communications Degree in 2015. While at NICC, he worked at Slumberland, Quality Inn and at Ace Hardware all in Decorah. He just recently was accepted to the University of Iowa, where he was excited to continue his pursuit of a degree in Creative Writing; starting in January 2017.       Rob is survived by his mother, Jeanne Loftus, Lawler, IA. One brother: Drew Loftus, Cedar Falls, IA. His maternal grandparents: Dan and Ethel Neuzil, Fort Atkinson, IA. Uncles and aunts: Steve Neuzil, Fort Atkinson, IA; Terri (Ed) Simon, Olmsted Falls, OH; Lori (Mike) Golka, Calmar, IA; Deb (Dave) Owen, Cedar Rapids, IA; Joe Neuzil, Fort Atkinson, IA; Danny (Samantha) Neuzil, Spring Grove, MN; Kay (Todd) Caccamo, West Chester, OH; and James (Penney) Neuzil, Fort Atkinson, IA. Great uncles and aunts: Bernard Neuzil, Fort Atkinson, IA; Julia (Kenny) Brandt, Cedar Rapids, IA; Norbert (Ione) Neuzil, Decorah, IA; Helen Rothmeyer, Loves Park, IL; Vera Wiest, Fort Atkinson, IA and John (Marsha) Blong, Lady Lake, FL, along with many cousins, friends, classmates and co-workers.       Rob was preceded in death by his father, Mark Loftus in March 2014. His paternal grandparents: John Douglas and Marianne Loftus.