Frank Joseph Loschke

Frank Joseph Loschke, 86, beloved husband, father, & grandfather passed away in the loving arms of his wife on October 18, 2021. Frank was born on January 25, 1935 in the small mountain village of Gottschee, Slovenia. He enjoyed a few years of a simple farming life until the Nazis invaded, destroying his village & killing many of his family. After becoming orphaned, wandering the countryside & being forced to live in a refugee camp, he made the decision to come to America with the Red Cross. At the age of 14 he was processed at Ellis Island on St. Patrick's Day 1949, not knowing the language & wondering what was going to happen to him. Frank was taken to an orphanage in the Bronx until William & Marie Schmidt, a Yugoslavian couple who had lost their only son in the war, eventually took him in. They provided him a warm and loving home. When the neighborhood kids painted swastikas on the front door of their home because Frank spoke German, his adopted parents sent him to St. Michael's School for Boys in Pennsylvania. At St. Michael's he learned to read & write English, play American football, & was chosen "Best Looking" in his graduating class of four.

After graduation, Frank joined the United States Air Force to serve the country that had given him a new life. He was sent to Madrid, Spain, and it was there that he met the girl who would become the love of his life. She spoke no English, so he learned Spanish very quickly as he pursued her heart. Frank and Maria Teresa were married on August 8, 1959 and enjoyed a month-long honeymoon traveling across Europe in a VW Beetle. Their daughter Teresita was born 10 months later, & the three of them had a wonderful life travelling the world with assignments in New Jersey, Spain, Thailand, the Philippines, Germany & finally New Mexico.

Frank was a good man; a joyful soul, lover of people, travel, good food & laughter. A devout Catholic, his deep, abiding faith was the anchor & foundation of the family. Frank was fluent in Spanish & German, & loved the great outdoors. He enjoyed skiing, bowling, golfing & fishing. He earned a Master's Degree from the University of Utah, & retired from the USAF as a MSgt after 23 years, working as a civil servant for 20 more years. At times he could be a bit gruff, but a more tender heart could not be found. People & dogs alike were drawn to his warmth & generous spirit. He was blessed with many close & treasured friendships throughout his life, enjoying countless wonderful dinners, backyard BBQ's & trips with friends.

Frank's grandchildren were his greatest joy. As they grew, he relished picking them up after school at Annunciation & taking them out for ice cream, never missing a sporting or scouting event, school play or ballet recital. "Papa" took his grandson Michael fishing in Alaska numerous times, bringing home coolers of halibut & fresh salmon. He & granddaughter Katie, his "Sunshine", made a trip to Washington DC where they saw all the sites & ate a big hamburger nearly every night. The family enjoyed many wonderful vacations with Papa through the years: Spain, San Diego, Yellowstone & Lake St. Catherine to name a few. A yearly ski trip to Purgatory with friends was a tradition for years, & many memories were made that will be cherished forever.

Frank suffered from several health ailments the last years of his life, & as he slowly became debilitated, he was lovingly cared for by Teresa, his surviving wife & life partner of 62 years. Frank may have arrived in the USA with no family, but the day he went to heaven he left behind a big, loving family: daughter Teresa, grandchildren Michael & Katie Corio, nieces & nephews Catherine (Bill), Pablo (Megan), Paz (Jeff), Paco, Michael & Raul along with 9 great-nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many dear & beloved friends.

A Rosary will be recited on November 16, 2021, 6:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Lomas.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated November 17, 2021, 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church.  Interment at the Santa Fe National Cemetery with full military honors will be November 18, 2021 at 12:45 p.m.

Please note that masks will be required at all services.  Please consider a memorial donation to Catholic Charities or the American Lung Association.

"If our sorrow is to be lessened by anything, it may be in remembering the joy of loving and being loved by him."