Geoffrey S. Loeffler

Geoffrey S. Loeffler died July 23, 2008 at his Big Lake home after a lengthy illness. Loeffler will be buried next to his father at Dearborn Park in Poway, Calif. Graveside services will be Wednesday, Aug. 6 in Poway. Pastor David Nutting of North City Presbyterian Church will officiate.

Loeffler was born May 7, 1954 in Painesville, Ohio. He was raised in the Cleveland area until the age of 14 when the family moved to southern California. He received his high school diploma from Poway High School.

In 1983 Loeffler married his wife, Susan. His lifelong dream was to be a pilot in Alaska. This dream was realized when Geoffrey and Susan moved to Alaska in 1984 with their two children, Shira and Josh, with Christine on the way.

The family lived in Alaska from 1984 to 1986, returning to San Diego in 1986. They returned to Alaska in 1991.

Loeffler worked extremely hard to achieve his many commercial pilot ratings, his family said. He began flight instruction in 1984 in Fairbanks to gain enough flight hours to achieve several airplane type ratings. He was a traditional Bush pilot, flying people and supplies to remote villages. He worked as a floatplane pilot transporting Alaska travelers to remote river and lake locations around the state.

Additionally he piloted corporate and medevac flights out of San Diego, and ended his flying career in Anchorage as a pilot for Providence Hospital’s Life Flight medevac service.

Loeffler loved his family above all else, and struggled through many years of illness to raise his children and provide a future for his family when he was gone, they said. He was an active member of an Addison’s disease group and took over the administration of the online chat list to help others to understand and cope with their disease.

“His wisdom, love and caring will be greatly missed by all,” the family wrote.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, of Big Lake; daughter Shira Russell of Wasilla; son Josh Crowell of Escondido, Calif.; daughter Christine Loeffler of Maui, Hawaii.; son Stephen Loeffler of Honolulu; sister Danyale English of New York, N.Y.; and brother Greg Loeffler of Mentor, Ohio.

He is predeceased by his parents Lottie and Charles Loeffler, and brother Carl Loeffler.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Adrenal Disease Foundations, 505 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, NY 11021.

Valley Funeral Homes & Crematory of Palmer and Wasilla assisted the family locally.