William H. 'Bill' Losen

WILLIAM H. "BILL" LOSEN

Hazleton

William H. "Bill" Losen, 86, of Hazleton, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, at Grandview HealthCare Center in Oelwein. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at the Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein, with an American Legion memorial service beginning at 6 p.m. led by Ross Reid Post 9 of Oelwein. There also will be visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein on Friday, Jan. 5, with services beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will be at a later date in Decorah, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Fontana Park in Hazleton or the Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein. For condolences, please visit www.geilenfeldfh.com.

Bill was born on April 30, 1931, in Decorah, Iowa, the son of Phillip and Bertha (Teslow) Losen. He grew up in the Decorah area, graduating from Decorah High School in 1949. He continued his education at Luther College in Decorah, where he played football, graduating in 1956. On Dec. 27, 1957, he was united in marriage with Maxine Groskurth at the Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army on Jan. 19, 1951, and served during the Korean War in the winter of 1951. He was honorably discharged on April 15, 1957. Bill was a teacher at Oelwein High School for 34 years, where he taught science, chemistry and biology. Bill enjoyed his winter trips to Mexico, teacher and veteran conventions, and running the downs marker at the Oelwein football games.

He is survived by his wife, Maxine, of Hazleton; nieces, Holly Losen and Lisa Lowell; nephews, Noel (Connie) Losen and Richard Lowell; brothers-in-law, Wilhelm (Gwen) Groskurth, George Groskurth and Walter Groskurth; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Phillip Losen and his wife, Margaret, and Alden Losen; and a sister, Francis Lowell.