Obituary for George Looschen Sr.
George E. Looschen Sr., 86 years, of Fremont, NE, passed away, May 31, 2023, at his home.
George was born September 9, 1936, in Fremont, NE, to George and Carrie Looschen.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Scott Looschen; sisters, Jean Osterloh, Mary (Dick) Toren, and Carolyn (Jack) Tooley.
George is survived by his loving wife, Sandra (Simmons) Looschen of Fremont; children, George (Shelley) Looschen, and Cliff (Korra) Looschen; 5 grandchildren, George III, Seth, Trey, Kassandra and Carson; 2 great grandchildren, Mia and Lorenzo Looschen; brother-in-law, Byron Osterloh; and nephew, Matt Tooley
In 1960, a young man was excited to graduate from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. At that time, he could not know how many lives he would touch, or the impact he would have in the space industry. George Looschen started his career that year as an electrical systems engineer with the General Dynamics Corporation working on the Atlas weapons systems program. In 1962 he joined the General Electric Company, working on the Apollo program, and in 1964, George began that chapter at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, George soon found his way to the Kennedy Space Center. During his NASA career, George worked as an engineer, branch chief, division chief, and assistant launch manager, all in support of the NASA Expendable Launch Vehicles Services Program (LSP). Following a quick, 1-year “retirement” in 1994-95 it was back to work, this time focusing on the Delta launch vehicles as a senior engineer for McDonnell Douglas. In 1998 George joined Analex Corporation to continue his support to the NASA LSP as a member of the ELVIS contract team. In 2002 he left to join the Aerospace Corporation in support of the US Air Force but was still working on the Delta vehicles. In 2007, George rejoined Analex in Denver, where he worked on the ELVIS 1,2, and 3 contracts until his retirement in August 2020.
In a career that spanned an astounding 60 years, George saw it all, did it all, and developed most of it. He participated in over 400 launches of the Thor Agena, Atlas Agena, Atlas Centaur, Titan II/IV, Delta, Scout, and Pegasus launch vehicles. He was an invaluable member of the ELCIS and LSP team, a mentor to many, and a true friend to all. George Looschen cannot be replaced and his contributions to NASA and the U.S. space program are immeasurable. We wish George and his wife Sandra the very best as they embark on this new chapter, and we thank George for those strong and sold shoulders upon which we now stand.
Graveside service will be 1:00 PM, Friday, June 16, 2023, at Memorial Cemetery in Fremont.
Moser Memorial Chapel, 2170 N. Somers Ave. Fremont, NE 68025 402-721-4490.
George was born September 9, 1936, in Fremont, NE, to George and Carrie Looschen.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Scott Looschen; sisters, Jean Osterloh, Mary (Dick) Toren, and Carolyn (Jack) Tooley.
George is survived by his loving wife, Sandra (Simmons) Looschen of Fremont; children, George (Shelley) Looschen, and Cliff (Korra) Looschen; 5 grandchildren, George III, Seth, Trey, Kassandra and Carson; 2 great grandchildren, Mia and Lorenzo Looschen; brother-in-law, Byron Osterloh; and nephew, Matt Tooley
In 1960, a young man was excited to graduate from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. At that time, he could not know how many lives he would touch, or the impact he would have in the space industry. George Looschen started his career that year as an electrical systems engineer with the General Dynamics Corporation working on the Atlas weapons systems program. In 1962 he joined the General Electric Company, working on the Apollo program, and in 1964, George began that chapter at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, George soon found his way to the Kennedy Space Center. During his NASA career, George worked as an engineer, branch chief, division chief, and assistant launch manager, all in support of the NASA Expendable Launch Vehicles Services Program (LSP). Following a quick, 1-year “retirement” in 1994-95 it was back to work, this time focusing on the Delta launch vehicles as a senior engineer for McDonnell Douglas. In 1998 George joined Analex Corporation to continue his support to the NASA LSP as a member of the ELVIS contract team. In 2002 he left to join the Aerospace Corporation in support of the US Air Force but was still working on the Delta vehicles. In 2007, George rejoined Analex in Denver, where he worked on the ELVIS 1,2, and 3 contracts until his retirement in August 2020.
In a career that spanned an astounding 60 years, George saw it all, did it all, and developed most of it. He participated in over 400 launches of the Thor Agena, Atlas Agena, Atlas Centaur, Titan II/IV, Delta, Scout, and Pegasus launch vehicles. He was an invaluable member of the ELCIS and LSP team, a mentor to many, and a true friend to all. George Looschen cannot be replaced and his contributions to NASA and the U.S. space program are immeasurable. We wish George and his wife Sandra the very best as they embark on this new chapter, and we thank George for those strong and sold shoulders upon which we now stand.
Graveside service will be 1:00 PM, Friday, June 16, 2023, at Memorial Cemetery in Fremont.
Moser Memorial Chapel, 2170 N. Somers Ave. Fremont, NE 68025 402-721-4490.