Loomer, Bradley Max

Bradley Max Loomer, 78, passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, at Crestridge Care Center in Maquoketa.

The Loomer Family welcomes friends to a memorial reception from noon to 2 p.m. Jan. 15, 2011, at the Kirkwood Room, 521 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City, next to Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics or the University of Iowa Foundation for Iowa Athletics.

Brad was born Nov. 21, 1931, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Max and Zelda (Chapman) Loomer. He was a 1949 graduate of Mason City High School and a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1953, his master's degree in 1956 and his Ph.D. in elementary education in 1962. Brad served in the Army Corps of Engineers from 1953 to 1955. In June 14, 1953, Brad married Margaret Doescher in Clear Lake.

Brad taught and was principal at numerous schools from 1954 to 1964, including schools in Owatonna and Rochester, Minn. He was also associate professor and assistant head of the Department of Education at Illinois State University. From 1961 to 1972, he was the elementary principal at University High School in Iowa City. From 1961 on Brad was a professor in the College of Education at the University of Iowa. He published nine books and developed an elementary spelling series. In 2005, he became Professor Emeritus and continued work on educational related research.

Brad had served on the University of Iowa Board in Control of Athletics and was a member of numerous professional organizations.

Brad loved to travel and had visited most of the continental United States. He enjoyed time spent camping, back packing, hiking in the Tetons and cross country skiing. Hawkeye football and basketball brought much enjoyment. Brad had a passion for running and in 1978 while running on the University of Iowa track he was struck by lightning.

Brad is survived by his former spouse, Margaret “Margie” Loomer and their five children, Kirk (Julie) Loomer of Coralville, Scott (Susan) Loomer of Portland, Ore., Jay of Iowa City, Lynne (Doug) Ginsberg of Iowa City, and Anne (Steve) Richardson of San Antonio, Texas; his brother, Dennis (Esther) Loomer of Austin, Texas; his sister, JoAnn (Burt) Falk of Palm Springs, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Kris (Amber) Loomer, Justin (Leah) Loomer, Logan Loomer, Jordan Loomer, Landon Loomer, Louis Ginsberg and Megan Ginsberg; two great-granddaughters, Addyson and Avery.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Charles Loomer.

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