Edwin Loutzenheiser, Jr

Hastings resident, Edwin "Ed" J. Loutzenheiser, Jr., 94, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at Haven Home in Kenesaw, Nebraska.

Memorial services will be Sunday, April 22, 2012; 2:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church, Hastings with Pastor Tony Dawson and Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Rathod officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska. There will be no visitation, book signing will be Friday, April 20, 2012; 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. and Saturday, April 21, 2012; 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hastings College Foundation, Hastings, Nebraska or Northeast Community College Foundation, Norfolk, Nebraska.

Ed was born July 17, 1917 in Gothenburg, Nebraska to Edwin Jacob Loutzenheiser, Sr. & Anna (Wiklund) Loutzenheiser. He graduated from Gothenburg High School; obtained his Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Master's degree in organic chemistry, and PhD in pulp and paper engineering from The Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin. Ed served with the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946 as a gunnery officer on the USS Bingham. He married Cora C. Russell on January 5, 1946 in Honolulu, Hawaii; she preceded him in death on November 22, 2010. Ed was an entrepreneur, founder and past President of Great Plains Container Company, and President of Phoenix Casting & Machining. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Rotary past District Governor, past President of Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce & Industry, three time past President of Overland Trails Council Boy Scouts of America, served in leadership roles at the local district and conference levels of the United Methodist Church, past President HEDC, Nebraska Diplomat, former member of Central Community College Board of Governors, and Board of Public Works for Hastings Utilities for several terms. In 1973, he was the United States Small Businessman of the Year. He received the Private Enterprise Award from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce in 1991.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Cora C. Loutzenheiser

Survivors include:
Sons: William Loutzenheiser - Hastings, NE
Richard Loutzenheiser - Hastings, NE
Sister: Marion Stalb - Kona, HI
Brother: Thomas Loutzenheiser - Boise, ID