Al Loomer

Maurine (Polan) Loomer and Allison Potter (Al) Loomer, lovingly married for nearly 68 years, passed away recently in Ripon, Wis. Maurine passed away on May 1, at the age of 96, and Al followed her on May 7, at the age of 97.

Al and Maurine met as graduate students at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and were married June 2, 1942. They immediately moved to Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada, where Al did wartime service as head of the weather bureau at the Royal Canadian Air Force base there. They returned to Wisconsin in 1945 when Al took a faculty position at Milton College in Maurine's hometown of Milton. They moved to Green Bay in 1955, where Al was a mathematics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and its predecessor two-year campus. Al and Maurine lived in Green Bay for the remainder of their lives until moving to an assisted living facility in Ripon shortly before Christmas. 

Family was the focus of Al and Maurine's lives, raising five sons. Two were born during their time in Chatham, two while in Milton, and the fifth after they moved to Green Bay. Maurine was a stay-at-home mom, and she and Al were closely involved in their sons' lives, whether through attending their sons' many sporting and other events, flooding their backyard each winter to make an ice rink, or taking their sons to the 'Y'. Both were active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, Al was the president of the Lincoln Elementary School PTA, and both were active in the youth activities of their church, Union Congregational. Family vacations were important to Al and Maurine, a tradition that carried over into their sons' adult lives. Each summer for 20 years they rented cottages in Door County for an annual get-together with their sons and their sons' families. 

Travel was also a major source of enjoyment for Al and Maurine. Al led several study trips to London for UWGB students, with Maurine accompanying him on many of the trips. They also traveled extensively in their retirement, including trips to Australia and New Zealand and The Holy Land. For many years they spent their winters in Austin, Texas, near their son, Gordon. On their way to or from Austin each year, they would make a sweeping trip to visit their family in Chicago, Tampa and Charlotte. They were also very involved in Elderhostel, and hosted several programs at UWGB. 

Maurine and Al both had a love of classical music, as well as a love of bridge. They participated in a number of contract bridge leagues through their church. 

Maurine was born in Battle Creek, Mich., Jan. 4, 1914, the second of seven children of Guy and Norma Polan. When she was one year old, her family moved to Milton. In 1935, she graduated from Milton College, where she was a star basketball player. She was inducted into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. While in Milton she was active as a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, Cub Scout leader, and member of the school board. 

In Green Bay, Maurine was an active member of Union Congregational Church. She had a lifelong passion for crafts, and shared her talent for making beaded flowers by leading the Women's Fellowship beading ministry for years. She taught women of the church her beading skills, and they sold their creations at the annual church bazaar, raising funds for the church. She also taught other friends the art of beading, which has brought hours of joy to their lives. Her beautiful beaded flowers are found in the homes of many, and are especially treasured by her remaining family members. 

Al was born April 18, 1913, in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Canada, to Brett Baxter Loomer, DDS, and Mabel Potter Loomer. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and did further graduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following World War II, he became a U.S. citizen. 

Al was a teacher for 50 years, beginning at age 20 at a junior high in Wolfville, NS. He also taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Royal Canadian Air Force (meteorology, 1942 to 1945), Milton College (1945 to 1955), and UWGB and its two-year predecessor (1955 to 1983). He frequently was recognized by his students as one of the outstanding teachers at UWGB. He also was very active in faculty activities at UWGB, including parliamentarian of the Faculty Senate for 14 years, and was Faculty Representative to the UWGB Athletics Committee. In recent years, he particularly enjoyed his involvement in the Retired Faculty Club and in important University events such as commencement. Upon his retirement in 1983, he was honored with Professor Emeritus status by the University. 

Al was very involved in Union Congregational Church, including serving as Moderator of the church, as well as in many other roles. He was active in the Brown County Council of Churches, serving as its President in 1979. He also served in the prison ministry for the Green Bay Correctional Institution, and was active in other civic activities, including serving as parliamentarian for the Pulaski School Board for a number of years. 

Al was an avid tennis player, amazingly playing until he was 96 years old. He had a regular game three times a week with a group of friends at Western Racquet Club. 

He was the first certified television meteorologist in the Green Bay market, at WFRV-TV. He was the meteorologist for Channel 5 from 1958 to 1961, and later filled in on weekends in the late 1960s and early 1970s. 

Maurine and Al are survived by four sons, Norman (Susan), Ripon; Gordon (Sally), Austin, Texas; Thomas, Tampa, Fla.; and Richard (Deborah), Charlotte, N.C.; a daughter-in-law, Evie, Pensacola, Fla.; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. They were preceded in death by their son, John (Jack). 

Maurine is survived by one brother, Roger, Santa Barbara, Calif. and is preceded in death by five brothers and sisters. Al is preceded in death by two brothers and a sister. 

A celebration of the lives of Al and Maurine Loomer will be held Sunday, May 23, at Union Congregational Church, 716 S. Madison Street, Green Bay. The service will begin at 4 p.m., with visitation beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the church's English Room. 

Contributions in the memory of Al and Maurine can be made to the Union Congregational Church Memorial Garden Fund, or to the American Cancer Society, 3311 S. Packerland Dr., De Pere, WI 54115, or other cancer support organization. Like so many families, Al and Maurine's family was impacted by cancer. They lost their son, Jack, to cancer at the age of 36, while son, Gordon, great-grandson, Michael, and daughter-in-law, Sue, are cancer survivors. 

The family would like to thank the staff of Barrett House in Ripon, the Ripon Medical Center, and Woodside Manor in Green Bay for the loving care they gave to Al and Maurine. Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, is assisting the family.

(Reprinted with permission from Todd & Tamera Goheen, Funeral Director/Owners, Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home.)