July 14, 1936 – September 30, 2026
Ivan Lee Loesch, 90, of Overland Park, Kansas, formerly of Scandia, Minnesota, and Huron, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026. Prior to his passing into God’s peace, his family gathered at his bedside to celebrate communion and share an anointment blessing.
The celebration of Ivan’s life will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Huron, South Dakota, followed by inurnment at Restlawn Memory Gardens and a fellowship luncheon back at the church.
Ivan was born on July 14, 1936, in Meta, Missouri, to the Reverend David J.O. and Alice (Koeppel) Loesch—arriving, fittingly, on the hottest day of that summer. Growing up as a “pastor’s kid” in the 1940s and 50s, Ivan remained a curious, unconventional individual throughout his life. He was an entrepreneurial, creative individual and fully embraced his unique personality while maintaining a deep love for his family and a steadfast commitment to Christ’s teachings, particularly our social responsibility to the less fortunate.
True to form, Ivan almost always went his own way. He chose not to follow in his father’s footsteps or fulfill his mother’s desire for him to attend seminary, though he briefly considered art and teaching. Instead, he found a vocation in barbering and hairstyling—a profession that supported his growing family and enabled him to serve his communities.
After graduating from Wolsey High School in 1955—following a summer spent building grain silos and nearly drowning in Lake Michigan—Ivan enrolled in Barber College in Iowa City, Iowa, where he earned his license. On another blistering hot day, July 1, 1956, he married his high-school sweetheart, Elaine Klicker.
The young couple, fresh off the farm and small-town life, began their family in Iowa City with the birth of their first son, Curtis, arriving amidst the crackle of firecrackers while Ivan held a fan on Elaine. Three years later, as Ivan operated his first barbershop in Waverly, MO and Elaine made their first house a home, daughter Lynell was born. The next year, packed into a 1956 Ford, the family moved to Huron, South Dakota. Ivan continued his career at the Marvin Hughitt Hotel Barbershop, while Elaine managed the homefront. Their third child, Collin, soon completed the family.
Ivan opened The Kingsmen Barbershop in 1966, named after his love of medieval history. He was a Huron tonsorial groundbreaker, boldly banning cigarettes in the shop and switching exclusively to appointments—a controversial business practice in 1966. An accomplished stylist who connected warmly with people from all walks of life, he was named South Dakota Barber of the Year and organized popular “hair-a-thon” benefit fundraisers for individuals with physical disabilities.
Christ’s teaching tells believers not to hide their light, but to let it shine. Ivan let his light shine brightly. He was a dedicated son, husband, father, “Gramps”, “GrandPapa”, enthusiastic community and church member, inventor, and Heartland historian. An innovative and forward-thinking mind, Ivan held seven patents ranging from nesting chairs to novel space-frame building techniques designed for affordable housing. He designed the “Welcome to Huron” signs placed at each of the cardinal directions which are still standing today and have welcomed visitors to Huron and Huronians back to their home. He ran for Mayor in 1994, and he was chosen to present the 1976 South Dakota Bicentennial Flag at the White House to the Ford Administration in Washington, DC.
Indeed, many people often said he was simply ahead of his time. Throughout his life, he relished renovating and improving his homes and rental properties with Elaine by his side. He could figure out how to do just about anything because he never limited his mind and was never afraid of failure.
Ivan’s lifelong passion and deep respect for Indigenous cultures and history were nurtured during childhood visits to his grandparents’ farm on the banks of the Mississippi River in Southeast Missouri. He often reminisced about hunting arrowheads with his Granddad Otto Koeppel while hearing stories of the Cherokee people who suffered and died along the Trail of Tears, which passed just below the pasture—a landscape now preserved as Trail of Tears State Park. For many years, Ivan shared his knowledge and appreciation of the Heartland’s original occupants with school children and local clubs, often delighting audiences by dressing up as a frontier trapper for his presentations. He was a well respected historian who created the Heartland Region map, saved the Old Stone Church from destruction, and appeared on The History Channel telling about the Petroglyph stone found around Tulare, SD.
Family was always the cornerstone of Ivan’s life, but he unfailingly made time for others. Friends and relatives—including kids who are now grandparents themselves—still fondly remember the warmth of their own unique “Ivan experience.”
Ivan and Elaine spent many cherished years with family and friends in Huron. After Elaine’s passing, Ivan embraced a change of pace, living for a time in Scandia, Minnesota, before making his final move in 2021 to Overland Park, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Elaine Ruth (Klicker) Loesch; his parents, Reverend David J.O. and Alice Loesch; his brothers, Rev. Donald (Carol) Loesch and Royce (Jeannine) Loesch; and his foster brother, Lester (Diana) Hortter.
He is lovingly remembered for his kindness, humor, love, and compassion by his children, Curtis Loesch of Huron, SD; Lynell (Tom) Nelson of Olathe, KS; and Collin Loesch of Huron, SD; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Erik (Adrienne) Nelson of Overland Park, KS and their children, William, Margaret, and Eleanor; and Kayla (Cameron) Capper of Mountain View, CA and their children, Logan and Hattie.
He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Rev. Keith & Joan Loesch of Lee’s Summit, MO; sisters-in-law, Jeannine Loesch and Marlys (Robert) Barker; favorite cousin Dorcas Balcer; and many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Huron Regional Medical Center Foundation (Hospice Program), Dakotaland Museum, or Habitat for Humanity.
Service Locations & Details
• Service & Fellowship Luncheon: Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 2040 Ohio Ave SW, Huron, SD 57350 (Luncheon will follow the inurnment).
• Inurnment: Restlawn Memory Gardens, Huron, SD 57350.
Obituary published by Highland Park Funeral Home & Crematory.
