Loretta Ruth Schoessel

Loretta Ruth Schoessel, age 70 of Hastings, MI, went to Heaven on Friday, August 5th, 2011, while surrounded by her family at home.  Loretta was born in Quincy, IL on July 4th, 1941, the daughter of the Rev. John R. and Adelaide (Schoening) Westphal.  Loretta was a graduate of Gillett High School in Gillett, Wisconsin, where her father served as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church.  Loretta attended Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota and received her undergraduate degree from Concordia Univeristy in River Forest, IL.  She also did graduate work at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Loretta's teaching career began at Immanuel Lutheran School in Rock Island, IL, where she met her husband Carl.  They were married by Loretta's father on June 27th, 1965.  Loretta and Carl then moved to Michigan where Loretta taught at St. Thomas Lutheran School in East Detroit, MI.  Loretta continued as a substitute teacher after her family's move to Hastings, MI in 1983, and also volunteered for many years in the Public Library's reading program at Northeastern Elementary School.

As a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Hastings, MI, Loretta taught Sunday School, was a faithful member of Word Watchers Bible Study Group, the Choir, Sarah Circle, and the Alter Guild.  Loretta received the Lifetime Compassion Award from Grace Lutheran Church in 2011.

Active in her community, Loretta was a volunteer for LOVE, Inc. and helped to establish the Barry Community Hospice .  Loretta was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteering from the Barry County United Way Volunteer Center.  Loretta was also a recipient of the Hastings Rotary Club's Red Rose Award and was a long-time member of the Hastings Women's Club.

Loretta worked faithfully over the years to raise funds for the new Hastings Public Library, and was a member of the original steering committee for that project.

With her family, Loretta operated the Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro in Hastings, MI where it was Loretta's idea to have the first ever New Year's Eve Ball Drop in downtown Hastings, which is now an annual event.

In 2011, Loretta was selected by the Exchange Club of Hastings to receive the "Book Of Golden Deeds" award.  However, in the midst of all of her church and community work, Loretta always believed that her primary role was that of Wife, Mom and Grammy.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Lois.  She is survived by her husband Carl, her sons Tim (Nancy) and Scott Schoessel and daughter Susan (Michael) Barnaart; grandchildren Tara and Tori Schoessel, Jackson and Gabriel Barnaart, John Timothy and Adelaide Schoessel, and Megan, Amber, and Katie DelCotto; brothers Rev. Leroy (Carol) Westphal and Melvin (Esther) Westphal; brother-in-law Leonard Tessen; sister Rhoda (Paul) Rittmueller as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation:
Thursday August 11, 2011   2-4 pm  &  6-8 pm
Girrbach Funeral Home
Hastings, Mi. 49058

Funeral Service:
Friday , August 12 , 2011 @ 11:00am
Hastings Central School Auditorium
509 S. Broadway
Hastings, MI  49058

Memorial Contributions:
A.  Grace Lutheran Church
239 E. North St.
Hastings, MI  49058

B.  Hastings Education Enrichment Foundation Scholarship Fund
232 W. Grand St.
Hastings, MI  49058

C.  Barry Community Hospice
450 Meadow Run
Hastings, MI  49058

D.  Hastings Public Library
227 E. State St.
Hastings, MI  49058