Ralph F. Loeschner, president of EightCAP,Inc. passed away peacefully Wednesday November 10 2004 after a year long battle with lung cancer. He was 65.
He was born in Grand Rapids on March 17, 1939.
Ralph was a District Manager for American Seating Co. in Richmond VA from 1963 to 1973. He served as program officer at the former Grand Rapids Area Employment and Training Council in Grand Rapids from 1973 to 1978. In December of 1978 , he accepted the position of president of EightCAP, Inc. the local Community Action Agency serving Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella and Montcalm Counties.
As president of Eight CAP Inc., he also served as administrator of Central Area Michigan Works! Consortium, the local Michigan Works! Agency. Under his direction EightCAP established Threshold Academy, a public elementary charter school. He Also provided oversight of Camp Wah-Wah-Tay-See and Region 6 Special Olympics.
His dedication to EightCAP reflected his long-term commitment to the betterment of the communities served by the organizations.
Ralph served 12 years on the Governor’s Workforce Commission and was recently reappointed to the Michigan Workforce Investment Board by Governor Granholm. He was Secretary of the USA Works! Assoc., Treasurer of the Great Lakes Employment and Training Assoc. and a Board Member of the National Workforce Assoc. He was Past President of the National Association of County Training and Employment Professionals and served 8 years as Chairman of Michigan Works! Directors Assoc. Ralph was also very active working with congressional and senate legislators and staff on reauthorization of various state and federal programs.
He was married to Judith Peet at St. Francis Xavier in Grand Rapids on June 9,1962
He served on the Greenville School Board and also as its President , member and treasurer of Sigma Theta, founder and president for many years of the Woodbeck Chain of Lakes Assoc. served as president of the Greenville Country Club, a member of the St. Charles Parish for 32 years and served as co- Chairman of the parish Festival and director of the sports at St. Charles School.
He was preceded in death by his mother Ethel Marie Henry Loeschner, his father Fritz Elmer Loeschner, and sister , Sharon Marie Loeschner.
He is survived by his wife Judith (Peet) Loeschner , daughters and sons in law, Lori and Scott Baker , Lisa and Steven Day all of Greenville , son and daughter in law, Joseph and Lydia Loeschner of Rochester Hills , grandchildren, Alexander and Lauryn Day, Nicholas Baker and Joseph Loeschner , brother , Ray (Nancy) Loeschner of East Grand Rapids, sisters, Barbara (Carroll) MacInnes of Grand Rapids and Marian (Richard) Stauffer of LeRoy and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday November 15,2004 at 11 AM from St. Charles Catholic Church Greenville with Father Larry King as celebrant. Visitation is from 4-7 PM on Sunday at St. Charles Church. Burial is in St. Charles Cemetery, Greenville.
In lieu of flowers , memorial contributions may be sent to the St. Charles “New Piano Fund” 505 S. Lafayette St. Greenville Mi 48838 or to Threshold Academy c/o EightCAP Inc. PO Box 368 Greenville MI 48838
Hurst Funeral Home, Greenville
616 754 6616
