Jill Elaine (Natwick) Loeffler was born in Huron, South Dakota on April 11, 1946. She was brought into this world by her mother Unis Ann (Rahn) Natwick and father John Dyste Natwick and became a younger sister to Jeanie Marie (Natwick) Schubert. 16 months later, Jill and her family moved to Quinn, South Dakota where her father (John) was the Principal at a high school. Jill became an older sister to her brother John Dyste Natwick shortly after. They lived in the high school gym and used the home economics classroom for necessities. Jill’s mother (Unis) protected the family and even killed a rattle snake on the classroom floor.
When Jill was 3, she moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and attended Garfield elementary for Kindergarten and 1st grade. Jill’s father was a text book salesman who was transferred to the Minnesota area, which brought the family to Brooklyn Center for most of Jill’s 2nd grade year. St. Louis Park is where Jill completed 2 nd and 3 rd grade. She moved to Hutchinson to begin her 4th grade year and stayed through her junior year of high school. The last move her family made was to Rosemont, Minnesota. Jill graduated from Rosemount High School, Class of 1964. With Jill’s experience with all their frequent moves, she adapted well and she made friends with ease, no matter where she landed. No matter the obstacles, Jill found a positive way to always move forward through adulthood.
Jill met Richard Elmer Loeffler at a beach party in June of 1963 and started dating shortly after they attended the Rosemount High School prom during Jill’s senior year in 1964. After high school, Jill attended college at Augsburg in Minneapolis, Minnesota and continued her education at Fairview School of Nurses. She specialized in Obstetrical Nursing (Perinatal) working with mothers and newborns. In 1968, Jill was attending the Fairview School of Nurses and Richard was in pilot’s training. They got married in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Richard was assigned to Vietnam for one year and upon his return they relocated to Grand Forks Air Force base in North Dakota. Jill and Richard became proud parents to their first baby girl, Sara Elizabeth Loeffler. She was born at the Air Force base hospital in 1970. After Richard’s service, they moved back to Burnsville, Minnesota and they welcomed the birth of their first baby boy, David Richard Loeffler in 1974. In 1978, they were blessed with a 2nd baby boy, Daniel John Loeffler.
Jill and Richard moved from Burnsville, Minnesota to Lakeville, Minnesota and finally to their dream home in Longville, Minnesota. This is where they lived out their dream of being on a lake and escaping to a peaceful and serene lake. Many memories were made here with Sara, Dave and Dan and their 4 grandsons. Jill was diagnosed with a version of dementia called Alzheimer in 2010. She lived in Longville, Minnesota with frequent visits from family and friends until moving back to Eagan, Minnesota when her dementia progressed. She lived at Stonehaven’s memory care unit in Eagan, Minnesota until she needed services of higher level care. She was transferred to a nursing home in Apple Valley, Minnesota. This was her final move, as she took her last breaths here in the presence and surrounded by the love of her children.
Jill was an active part of her children’s and grandchildren’s lives. She loved her family and showed her love through thoughtful words, uplifting conversations, silly and contagious laughs and her skill of baking with love. She will be missed dearly, but we will celebrate our memories of her even more. Jill is preceded in death by her parents, John Dyste & Unis Ann Natwick. She is survived by Richard Elmer; children: Sara Elizabeth, David Richard and Daniel John Loeffler; four grandchildren: Brooks David, Ethan Daniel, Kendall Richard and Isaac John Loeffler; other relatives and friends. Memorial Service will be held 11:00 AM, Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, 14850 Garrett Ave., Apple Valley with a visitation one hour before service.