Final Salute

Gary William Loebrich joined his beloved wife Blanche (Watson) on her 90th heavenly birthday, July 21, 2026.  He was a lifelong resident of Midland and Sanford, passing away after a long battle with congestive heart failure at the age of 93.

Gary had a lot of love and a lot of loss during his years. He is pre-deceased by two of his daughters, Janet and Joyce. Judy is his only surviving daughter. She lives in Florida with her husband Eric Luoma.  Gary is also survived by (unofficially) adopted, dear family friends Mark and Sue LaBonville.  He leaves behind grandchildren Lynn (Devon), Keith (Denton), Kaleb, Cassie and Alex.  He was the proud great grandpa to Izzy, Lilly, Liam, Dottie, Frankie, Rory, Miles and Rogan.

Gary was born in Midland and graduated from Midland High School in 1952. He then joined the Navy and served on the Construction Battalion (CB), a specialized construction force, better known as Seabees.  He loved to tell stories about his time in Japan, then Korea and finally, in the Philippines where he explored nature off the base.  After his time in the military, he returned to Midland and held various construction jobs before joining Dow Corning in 1962 as a skilled trades person.  Initially he was a pipefitter and welder but quickly learned rigging safety. While working at Dow Corning he became an instructor at Delta College in rigging safety and industrial piping. After retiring in 1988 he and his wife travelled the country as he taught rigging safety at various companies and colleges.

Gary was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved to camp with his family. In 1964, he shot the first and largest elk then on record in the state.  Gary donated the elk to the MSU Museum where it is still on display for future generations to enjoy.  He hunted for squirrel, bear, rabbit, and especially deer.  He fished (summer and winter) for anything that would take a bait or that could be shot by an arrow.  He was a lifelong learner and teacher.  He loved to mentor and share what he knew with family, friends and neighbors.  He also loved bee keeping and horsemanship.  He volunteered with 4H and Tall in the Saddle (handicapped assisted riding).  He was known around Sanford and the state for his love of sled dog racing and his role as teacher and mentor in the Mid Union Sled Haulers (MUSH) club where he taught the skills of dog sledding but also focused on sportsmanship.

Funeral services with military honors for Gary will take place 11 a.m. Saturday August 22, 2026, at the Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Chapel, 1200 West Wheeler Street. Gary’s family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 5-8 p.m. and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of the service. A Celebration of Life reception will follow at The Great Hall and Convention Center located at 5121 Bay City Road, Midland starting at 12:30. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Midland County United Way or the Chippewa Nature Center.

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