Willard Erwin Lohnes Sr., M.D., 88, husband of Nell Jackson Lohnes, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 21, 2012.

Dr. Lohnes was born February 12, 1924 in Waterloo, IA, to the late Herbert Joseph Lohnes and Margaret Anna Heinl Lohnes. After graduating from Waterloo’s West High with the class of ’42, Dr. Lohnes served with the US Army Air Forces in the US and in the Pacific area until 1946. After WWII, he passed up a chance to transition from bomber navigator to jet pilot, choosing instead to pursue his long-held goal of becoming a medical doctor, graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1951. He served as general and thoracic surgeon until retirement in 1989.

Despite never making pilot with the Air Force, Dr. Lohnes did become a pilot, becoming certified as both a private pilot and private pilot instructor. He was also an avid reader and had a deep appreciation for music, theology, and education. After retirement, he served as a Gideon. He was married twice, both times for more than thirty years.

Surviving in addition to his wives Nell Jackson and Martha Miller, are four sons (Paul Lohnes, Willard Lohnes, Jr., Wes Sanders, and David Lohnes); four daughters (Anne Whiteford, Margaret McCoy, Laura Ray, and Rachel Salter); 26 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his brother, Dr. John Lohnes, and his grandson, Micah Lohnes.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29 at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, officiated by the Rev. Curtis DuBose and the Rev. Willard Lohnes Jr.

Burial and funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 26 in Cherokee, Iowa.

Memorials may be made to Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church Missions, 207 Mitchell Road, Greenville, SC 29615; or to Golden Strip Gideons, P.O. Box 1025, Fountain Inn, SC 29644.