Dr. William Robert Loeffler, (1949 - 2020) - ForeverMissed.com Online Memorials

Let the memory of Dr. Will be with us forever!

Friends, Family, & Colleagues of Dr. Will,

This memorial website was created in honor of our beloved father, brother, husband, teacher, and friend, fondly known as Dr. Will to many.

At a time when, much to our shared dismay, we cannot be together physically, we hope this forum extends an opportunity to be together from afar and share our best memories of a man who brought so much love and joy to each of our lives.

May it offer us all some peace and comfort in the face of this unexpected and heartbreaking loss. Please don't hesitate to share a story, photo, or kind word, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your ongoing support as we grieve together.

All our love,
Anjian, Kelly, Rob, Luke, and Gary

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April 18, 2020

RIP my good friend Dr. Will.
We’ve lost one of America’s great minds in manufacturing. I’m proud to say he was my mentor, associate, team member, confidant, adviser, troubleshooter and benefactor of superb dry humor. https://www.linkedin.com/in/drloeffler/
He specialized in seemingly impossible strategies to focus on business growth, profit increase, international expansion, costs of entry/exit, standards, quality assurance, technical troubleshooting, metrology, quality engineering, lean processes, smart sourcing, logistics, turnaround in Fortune 100 clients. Trained in chemistry, metallurgy, engineering management. Held two endowed university faculty chairs in statistics and international business. Troubleshoot quality productivity systems, executive mentor, board member, risk assessor, bank M&A, global strategies. Baldrige applications (invented Customer Relationship Management in 1987; first Baldrige audit), trained JCAHO Board. Co-author White Paper: Offshoring, Onshoring, Reshoring, and Keepshoring with TCOMS: Total Cost of Owning and Maintaining Safely with 256 Policy, Marketplace, Cost, Disambiguation Factors.

April 4, 2020

My name is Danielle Cooke and I started teaching Luke Loeffler private piano lessons about two months ago. Once I heard about the news of Dr. Wills's passing I was overwhelmed with sadness. Although I only knew him for a short period of time I could tell he was a very loving, sweet, and caring person. I also noticed he was a very intelligent man with a very wicked sense of humor. I loved how involved he was with his sons piano tutelage. I could honestly say he was a teacher's assistant he was so involved. Dr. Will would take the time to pick out new pieces for Luke, as well as help him learn the new songs and practice with him during the week. Something that is super rare to find. It was very evident he was an extremely devoted and caring father. Luke is a wonderful kid; he is super talented, smart, fun, and sweet. I think a lot of that has to do with the amount of love shown by both of his parents. Lastly, I feel grateful to have know such a wonderful person and parent. I know he is resting in peace with the angels in heaven. He will be forever missed, but never forgotten.

April 3, 2020

The passing of Will was heartbreaking and so unexpected. I have always felt Will was invincible. He was a great friend and mentor and an inspiration on how he lived his life as a father, husband, businessman and friend. For 30 years, we would talk and communicate frequently, almost daily. When I was down or struggling with something, he could re-energize me with his words, understanding and wisdom.

Our relationship was friends first and then business. Our styles and business approach were different at times and we had countless strategic discussions on how best to approach a problem or situation in our careers. In every case, whatever we decided, we were both 100% confident that whatever happened next, we each had the others back (even when we might be wrong). When we determined we could be wrong (very hard for us both to believe) we would talk and move forward together. The positive impact Will had as a business leader and helping businesses succeed is immeasurable and he went about it in a very confident and professional manner. I have always been proud to work and learn from him.

Will had a tremendous impact on all who got to know him. I will miss him with all my heart.

March 30, 2020

From Will’s Rotary Club family in Laguna Niguel, CA (as published in the "Ocean Breeze" bulletin):
On February 3, 2015 Joe Davis introduced the speaker, Dr. Will Loeffler, a Educational Psychologist who received a life saving heart transplant 9 months earlier (May 2014) at UCLA. He eloquently described his near-death experiences prior to receiving the transplant and explained how the event has changed his life. He gave a very inspirational message of hope and dedication to helping others.
Dr. Will Loeffler first joined Rotary in 1984 (Rotary Club of Toledo), then in 1988 he joined the Rotary Club of Reynolds Corners, after that in 2002 he joined the Rotary Club of Perrysburg. This gave him 31 years as a Rotarian when he joined our club in May of 2015. In total he has been a Rotarian for 36 years.
On May 5, 2015 Dr. Will Loeffler joined the Laguna Niguel Rotary Club and was sponsored by Joe Davis. Dr. Loeffler is under the classification of International Business Development. He is a resident of Aliso Viejo and his clients include IBM, Blue Shield and the U.S. Army. He holds a doctorate from University of Michigan.

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Gallery

Will, and his sponsor Joe Davis, joining the Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel, May 5, 2015

Bruce Birkeland presenting Will with a certificate of appreciation.

Will addressing the Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel, February 3, 2015

Father Speech at Rob's Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

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His Life

Dr. William R. Loeffler 1949-2020

March 27, 2020

Dr. William Robert Loeffler, fondly referred to by many as “Dr. Will”, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA on March 25, 2020 at the age of 70. Dr. Will was an incredible man in so many ways. He was a loving husband, incredible father, loyal friend, caring brother, and inspiring teacher to many. Dr. Will never met a stranger. His gentle and infectious smile was welcoming and put those around him at ease.

Dr. Will was born in Toledo, OH to Harry and Frances Loeffler on August 31, 1949. Dr. Will was wicked smart. His education history, degrees, and work over the years were extensive. After graduating from Whitmer High School in Toledo, OH, he went on to attend Wittenberg University, obtaining a degree in Chemistry. Dr. Will was a lifelong learner, attending many universities and obtaining several degrees. He attended University of Waterloo, University of Toledo, State University of New York at Stony Brook, University of Cambridge, obtaining degrees in Quality Management, Counseling, Oceanography, and Metallurgy. He then attended the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) where he obtained his Doctorate of Philosophy in Education and Psychology.

Dr. Will worked for and with many companies over the years, offering his expertise in Quality Management. He also owned and operated his own company The Loeffler Group, Inc. and later The New Loeffler Group, Inc. for 37 years. Dr. Will was known by many across the world for his ability to offer business solutions and strategies, often accomplishing the most challenging tasks as his clients described as “making the impossible happen”.

Dr. Will was a “keep it simple” and “be yourself” kind of guy. He had a big heart, caring deeply for his family, always checking in to make sure everyone was doing okay. In his spare time, Dr. Will loved reading, always learning new things, listening to music, playing with the latest gadgets, spending time with his family, fly-fishing at Rockwell Springs Trout Club when he visited Ohio, taking photographs, and travelling. Dr. Will was an avid traveller who traveled around the globe many times over.

Left to love and remember Dr. Will are his wife, Anjian Zhu; his daughter Kelly (Tony) Massenelli of Columbus, OH, his sons Robert (Julie) Loeffler and Luke Loeffler of Laguna Hills, CA; his brother Gary (Kathy) Loeffler of Maumee, OH; and his nephews Kevin Loeffler and Steve (Beth) Loeffler of Denver, NC. Dr. Will’s grandchildren, Olivia & Luca Massenelli, will dearly miss Gpa’s “froggie” and “elevator rides” and surprises in the mail. Dr. Will was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Frances Loeffler.

Due to the current circumstances, a celebration of his life will be planned at a later date. In the meantime, please use this website to view pictures, listen to some of his favorite songs, songs that remind us of him, and leave your condolences, memories, pictures, and stories. In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to Donate Life America by visiting www.donatelife.net in his honor.

July 4th 2019

March 31, 2020

It’s hard to be having to write this after spending an amazing last summer with an amazing family. To experience an earth quake multiple after shocks and to just be enjoying each other’s company cracking jokes about making the CNN news Wow! on July 4th it was pretty big deal lol. As we sat around enjoying our drinks laughing and just being real was something I will never forget as well as my teenage son. Photos are worth a thousand words, but memories will last a lifetime. I’m a long time friend of Julie since middle school the daughter in law. When I met Rob his son for the first time I told Julie he was the one. After meeting the whole family as a bridesmaid in the wedding I knew this was an extended family I inherited for life. My son and myself were accepted and treated with so much respect and comfort. I felt right at home. We were offered to have dinner at their place and right away it felt like home. It hurts my heart to have to know we won’t get to have another summer as before, but it doesn’t end here. Look forward to watching Luke grown into a young man. Fourth of July will forever be a memory in my mind and heart ❤️.

March 31, 2020

I don’t really remember meeting Will. He was just sort of a growing presence in my Perrysburg world and then we gradually became friends. Good friends I like to think. I can only hope I was a good friend to him. For most certainly he was a good friend to me.

When I think of Will I think of him having many qualities. He was smart – sometimes almost absurdly so. He was always finding and enjoying the best of any situation. He persevered against all manner of daunting odds. He was close lipped – he never would talk in much detail of his work life. He was stoic, always embarking on the next grueling circumnavigation of the globe with a grin. He was interested in what you had to say. He was willing to leave the past behind and focus on the brightest of futures. He cherished Rob and Kelly, and at least among his many friends, he made sure you knew it. And he was completely invested in his new wife and family - I don’t want to contemplate the loss Anjian and Luke must endure.

But most of all I think of Will as relentlessly, unfailingly and happily generous.

I remember clearly the time in April of 2009 when my Iowa-based brother and nephew were visiting. He treated us to a wonderful day, at perhaps his favorite place in the world, Rockwell Spring Trout Club. Will didn’t join us that day but made sure we enjoyed a day of superb fishing, food and drink – on his tab of course as our money wouldn’t spend there. When we returned home, we stopped at “his kitchen”, the Tea Tree Asian Bistro, to say hello and express our gratitude. We enjoyed drinks and stories, food and laughter and then Will prevailed in picking up the tab again! My, and my brother’s, objections were strenuous and heartfelt, though ultimately useless. He was simply determined to give us a great day and would not be denied! It was his gift to us. To me.

It was a day to always remember with joy. That joy is both tempered and somehow enhanced by the sad, and oh-so-early, subsequent passing of both my brother and now my friend Dr. Will. I miss them both intensely.

I remember cleaning out Will’s locker at Rockwell, years ago when he thought he might not return. That is an exercise that gives one insight into a man. It was packed with treasures, some meaningful and some trivial but treasures none the less. And that does, in a way, define Will. He sought and found joy and value in many things: large or small, expensive or not, memorable or not, some even busted-up or not. That is an enduring and an endearing lessen he helped me learn.

Rest well my friend.
Jack Sculfort

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