Joseph B. Lohmar

The voice of a much-loved storyteller is quiet today, and a long and lovingly written tale of a life well-lived has found its happy ending. Joseph B. Lohmar passed away peacefully on March 30 at his home. Joe, son of Byron and Ellen Wood Lohmar was born on June 30, 1923 in St. Paul, MN, and spent most of his life in Wausau, with occasional jaunts to German beer gardens, Barbados beaches or up the Amazon, always in the company of dear friends, and with his sweet wife Irene by his side. In 1941, Joe joined the Army Air Corps. After earning his pilot wings at age 19, he joined his buddies Mac and Luke in looping through the Texas clouds and waving from his AT-6 Texan cockpit at startled farmers out in the fields. He was thrilled to take one last AT-6 ride in 2005. As "Your Friend in the Diamond Business", Joe owned and operated Lohmar Jewelers for 43 years. He was an honest, caring businessman whose customers sought him out after decades of happy marriages to say, "Hey, remember us? You sold us our engagement ring!" Joe was a committed member of the Masonic Lodge, American Legion and Elks Club, and one of his favorite Christmas experiences was chauffering "Santa Claus" to deliver toys and treasures to wide-eyed boys and girls. He devoted his life and heart to his own wide-eyed children and faithful wife, keeping us safe, well-fed and well-loved. He was a skilled woodworker, popcorn popper, advice giver, hugger, father and friend. After many years of Sunday picnics "up north", Joe and Irene purchased a lake cottage in 1988. In the "bug house" and petunias, the boat rides and birch trees and the laughter that rang across the lake, Dad gave his family a lifetime of irreplaceable memories. In recent years, Joe became a familiar face for the staff and fellow diners at Tri-City Restaurant. In the over-easy eggs, lemon meringue pie, patient winking waitresses and lives shared with friends over a cup of decaf, Dad found not only nourishment for his tummy, but for his soul as well - a true home away from home.The theme of Dad's story lay in the lines of his favorite poem, "I want to live by the side of the road and be a friend to man." His heart was an open door, his smile a welcome mat to everyone he met and through his eyes we learned to see the world as an amazing adventure, every day a gift, in every face or flower a glimpse of God's face. To all who were blessed by Joe's jokes or anecdotes or copies of inspirational tidbits hot off the Presto Print press, or who fished with him, or sang with him, or tipped a few or traveled or teased, know that you were a blessing to his grateful heart. He lived and he left us with a prayer of thankfulness to the God who gave him Irene, and sunshine and diamonds and loons and friendships and chipmunks and children. To those of us who have never known life without Dad's arm around our shoulder, or his voice on the other end of the telephone line sharing tales of Ole and Lena, or memories of Texas skies, or the simple loving listening of a man who adored us, we weep the silence and the empty Lazy Boy; and we rejoice that his true never-ending story has just begun and heaven rings new with his bountiful laughter. Thank you, Dad. We love you. See you soon. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Tom, an infant daughter, Katherine, and his wife, Irene (Kramer). Survivors include daughters, Ann (Steve) Holmes, Deerfield, WI, and twins Mary (Jim) Cepress, Wausau, and Maggie (Dave) Mueller, Rib Mountain, and son, Joseph Lohmar II of Wausau; seven grandchildren, Matt (Kate) Cepress and Mike Cepress, Sarah (Casey) Christian, Amanda Mueller(Andy Mroczenski), Ellyn Lohmar and Henry and Nellie Holmes, Deerfield. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 6th Street, Wausau. The Rev. Vernon Dolde will officiate. Friends may call Monday from 4-8 p.m. and again on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services all at the Sixth Street funeral home. There will be an Elk's Lodge of Sorrow at 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Sixth Street funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com.