Arlyn Lober, 98, of Springfield, died on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 8:07 p.m. at his home, surrounded by his family.
Visitation will be held Monday, May 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, May 17, beginning at 10 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson, Springfield, with the Rev. Mary E. Zupansic officiating. Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery with military rites provided by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense.
Mr. Lober was born May 8, 1924, in Cissna Park, to Edward and Rosella (Roll) Lober. He married Maureen Macy on June 18, 1950, in Litchfield, and she survives in Springfield.
He graduated from Cissna Park High School, where he was a star athlete and valedictorian. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII.
Mr. Lober served in the 11th Armored Division of Patton’s 3rd Army Thunderbolt as a tank commander and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a proud purple heart recipient. After leaving the Army, he went on to earn his bachelor and master’s degree from the University of Illinois and was a proud supporter of the Fighting Illini.
He took his first teaching position in Litchfield, where he would meet his future wife. The couple would then move to Springfield in 1952, where he would begin teaching math and coaching at Lanphier High School. He taught at Lanphier for 33 years and was the high school basketball coach for 22 years.
Mr. Lober took five teams to state and had over 400 career wins. He was inducted into the Illinois High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame. He also coached tennis and cross country in his early years at Lanphier. He retired from coaching in 1973 and then became the athletic director and retired from Lanphier in 1986.
He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, DAV, Kiwanis International, Ansar Shriners and a lifetime member of the American Legion of Cissna Park. He was also a past member of the Sangamon County Board.
Mr. Lober loved boating, water-skiing, traveling, spending summers at the DAV Club and attending his grandchildren’s many sporting events and activities. He was an avid runner, golfer and tennis player. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and would fly the “W” after every win.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Becky (Denny) Hendricks of Springfield, Rose (Ric) Lober-Hamilton of New Berlin and Chris (Todd) Green of Springfield; grandchildren, Macy (Nick) Lober-Morrison, Thomas Hamilton, Audrey Green and Gabriel Green; great-grandchildren, Eli Cook, Teagan Bensko and Jacob Morrison; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Lober was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Laurette Lober; and brother, Dale E. Lober.
The family requests that no flowers be sent due to medical reasons. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, 57 Country Place, Springfield, IL 62703; Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., Springfield, IL 62702; Meals on Wheels c/o Senior Services of Central IL, 701 W. Mason, Springfield, IL 62702; and Springfield Public Schools Foundation c/o Lanphier High School in honor of Arlyn Lober, 1900 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com.
