Lynne Ann Loebach

Lynne Ann Loebach never met a stranger. An outgoing woman with a sense of adventure, she welcomed and cared for family, friends, and acquaintances as well as anyone who happened to cross her path. Her husband, Bob, was her anchor and support for the over 40 years they spent together. Together, they raised their children, Robin, Adam, and Emily, to be in the world, but not of it. Lynne was the oldest sister of her beloved siblings: Ron (Prudence) Ruckman, San Antonio, TX; Laura (Steve) Heitz, Wapakoneta, OH; and Susan (Neal) Dykstra, Monticello, IN.

Lynne was born in Streator, IL, to Theresa and Talbert "Ruck" Ruckman, and would often recount the many wonderful memories she had of growing up there with her cousins and close friends. She graduated from Streator High School in 1975 and, after a sojourn in Iowa, returned to Streator where she worked at Thatcher's Glass Factory while getting her Associate's in Nursing from Illinois Valley Community College.

While at the factory, she began a friendship with her quiet coworker, Bob, who was also in school at IVCC and those carpool rides together blossomed into so much more. She may have left the factory to begin nursing at St. Mary's Hospital, but their relationship continued to flourish as he finished his degree at the University of Illinois. During that time, she also developed her passion for travel after a Caribbean cruise with her sister, Sue, and a European skiing trip with her cousin, Scott. While on that cruise, they made connections that would eventually lead Bob and Lynne down south.

Bob had only been working at Georgia Tech for a year before Lynne joined him and they were married on September 14, 1984. They welcomed their first child, Robin, and spent the next year living in Lynne's happy place, Ft. Walton Beach. In 1987, they welcomed their son, Adam, and bought their first home in Marietta. Over the next several years, while they spent time living in California and Florida, Georgia would always be their home.

In 1992, Lynne was thrilled to be able to visit her sister, Laura, on the mission field in Nigeria. From then on, "bedoui" became a part of the Loebach children's vocabulary anytime they were not where she needed them to be, especially for her youngest daughter, Emily, who they welcomed in 1994. For the next few years, Lynne and Emily could regularly be found volunteering at Robin and Adam's elementary school.

Even being diagnosed with cancer in 2001 didn't slow Lynne down for long. She used her 17 years of remission to continue travelling with family and friends, homeschooling, caregiving, greeting at her church, welcoming people into her home, enjoying her Wednesday night margarita, and watching NFL games with her brother, Ron. While recurrence and metastasis made engaging in those interests more difficult, she pursued them until the very end.

Her absence will be profoundly felt in the church lobby, after that great score, in appreciating that solid hand of cards, while planning that next trip, or even when just walking by "her seat" on the couch. Her great affection for and enjoyment of other people was unmatched. She will be missed by many.

The service will be held on Saturday September 9th at 11:00 AM at Smyrna Christian Church, 910 Concord Rd SE, Smryna, GA 30080. There will be a reception in the fellowship hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dala Development Programs, http://www.daladevelopment.org/donate.html , to support cancer treatment for the people of Kenya. Dan Okall, the programs executive director, is a dear friend of Lynne’s who she met in the states and later visited in Kenya.