Obituary of Rex Loutzenhiser

Rex Loutzenhiser, born June 24, 1920 at Jewell, Kansas passed away in his home in Flagler, Colorado, September 30, 2010 at the age of ninety. He was the seventh of nine children. His parents were Ernest T. and Edith Glenn Loutzenhiser. The family moved to a farm in the Shiloh Community 17 miles northwest of Flagler in December 1928. They experienced “make do” times during the “Great Depression.” Neighbors helped neighbors and little cash ever changed hands. The Saturday bath was taken in the wash tub in preparation for the Lord’s Day in Sunday. His parents had nurtured their children in the church and in May 1936, Rex accepted Jesus Christ into his life and was baptized. This baptismal service was held on his brother Donald’s farm in a stock tank. His two younger siblings were included in this service, as they also made confessions of their faith and made Jesus, Lord and Savior of their life. Rex received his first ten years of education in the Shiloh school system and then attended Flagler High School graduating with the class of 1939. Rex was an active 4-H member and really enjoyed showing hogs which he done some at Pueblo and also Lincoln, Nebraska. Rex enlisted in the United States Navy in May of 1942. In October of that year he graduated at Moreland, Kentucky. Out of a class of 150 members Rex was one of those who were promoted to Petty Officer Electrician Mate 3rd Class. His duty assignments included serving as an electrician mate on the USS PC – 1079, a patrol craft where their area of operations was the Pacific region. They served as escorts providing surveillance and protection for submarines and other craft from Alaska to the Hawaiian Islands to Midway and beyond. His group escorted Landing Ship Tanks (LST’s) for the invasions at Saipan and the Tinian Islands area. Rex served until the end of World War II and was discharged October 28, 1945. Upon returning home after his discharge, he worked for a couple of years with his father and then he moved into the home of his brother Everett and Rosalee. Brothers Lester, Everett, and Rex bought a section of ground in the early 1950 that had an irrigation well that had been drilled by Homer Huntzinger in 1948. This was one of the first irrigation wells in Kit Carson County. Eventually the alfalfa, over a period of several years was replaced with corn and wheat. Rex always enjoyed farming and took great pride in his crops. He was the state winner in the 1991 National Wheat Yield Challenge, and was also a national finalist for his entry that year. Rex was very proficient in evaluating the conditions of his crops – a crop consultant before it became a popular vocation. He had a good working relation with his brothers and his nephews. He served as the Crops Superintendent for the Kit Carson County fair for several years. He also served many years as a director for the Flagler Equity Co-op. Rex celebrated his 90th birthday June 24th of this year with a group of friends and relatives in the park having cake and ice cream and laughs. Rex passed away in his home and will be missed and remembered by his sister Lila Brouwer, sister-in-laws Rosalee Loutzenhiser and Rhoda Loutzenhiser and many nieces and nephews as well as friends.