Iris Mary Loftus

Iris M. Loftus, age 91, passed away on June 20, 2024, at Thornapple Manor in Hastings, Michigan. Iris was born on September 22, 1932, on Gascony Avenue in London, England to Charles and Florence (Eva) (nee Wyer) Horsley, where she and her two siblings, Joan and John, spent their early years. In 1939, England was thrown into war with the Axis powers, and the children of London were evacuated to homes in the countryside of England (and other countries) for their own protection. Over the next five years, Iris' home was split between bomb-ravaged London and the protection of the village of Great Billing, Northampton, where she was nurtured initially by "Mum and Pop" Chapman and later by Kath and Cecil Baker.

As a result of the war, the U.S. established a military presence in England. As part of this, a young sergeant in the Air Force, Patrick J. Loftus of Middleville, Michigan, was stationed there during the early 1950s. In February 1955, while attending the wedding of a fellow airman to an English girl, Patrick met Iris and proposed to her, after knowing each other for just two months. In September 1955, Iris boarded a transatlantic flight to Detroit, where she was met by her loving fiancé. After jolting over rough roads for several hours to Hastings, this young English girl found herself further out in the "country" than she had ever been. Iris and Patrick were married on October 8th, 1955, in St. Augustine's Church in Middleville.

Iris came to enjoy the small-town life in Hastings, where she and Patrick raised their three children. Iris retired in 1994 from the Barry County Sheriff's Department after 22 years of service. Iris, who was often described as "feisty," enjoyed being around people and hosting holiday dinners surrounded by family. She maintained the British lifestyle throughout her life, enjoying "proper English tea," baking mincemeat pies, fruitcake, Yorkshire pudding, bubble and squeak, shepherd's pie, and many other dishes made the traditional English way. In younger years she was an avid cyclist, biking around England and France following World War II.

Iris is survived by her son, Andrew J. Loftus of Annapolis, Maryland; brother-in-law, Austin Loftus of Manistique; grandchildren, Dornier Loftus of Las Vegas, Nevada, Banan Loftus (Taylor), Mallory Loftus, Ross Loftus, Lance Errthum, Nolan Errthum, Ashlee Profeta (Jacob); and daughter-in-law, Deborah (Scott) Loftus-Errthum of Plainfield, Illinois. She is also survived by her nephews and nieces, Stephen Loftus of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Christine, Jeff, Gary, and Colin (Cindy) Horsley and Diane Stoppa of Australia, Richard (Sofija) Potter and Sarah Potter of London, England, Cheryl Chestnut of South Carolina and Mike Heidt of North Carolina; cousin, David Wyer of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; special step-granddaughter, Sandra Pallante of Georgetown, Texas; and many great-nieces and nephews. She was looking forward to welcoming her first great-grandchild into the world later this summer.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick J. Loftus; son, Terrance P. Loftus; daughter, Denise Loftus Garn; son-in-law, Dean O. Garn; brother, John Horsley; and sister, Joan Potter. Interment of ashes at Mt. Calvary Cemetery and a celebration of Iris' life will occur at a later date. Final arrangements entrusted to Girrbach Funeral Home of Hastings.