John Ward Willson Loose

John Ward Willson Loose, 85, of Lancaster Township, passed from this life on January 14, 2011 at Hospice of Lancaster County. Jack was the son of the late I.H. Loose and Anna Willson Loose. He is survived by a sister Dorothy Boardman of Aiken, SC, a brother-in-law Patrick Boardman of Aiken, SC; a nephew Rick Boardman of London,  England; and a niece Karen Snowden of Lexington, KY. Jack was a noted historian of Lancaster County serving on the board of the Lancaster County Historical Society from 1948-1992, as secretary from 1948-73, president from 1973-1992, and president emeritus from 1992 until his death. He was named a Fellow of the Lancaster County Historical Society in 1992 and served as the editor of the Journal for the past 55 years.  He belonged to numerous historical organizations, national, state-wide, and local, among them: The Organization of American Historians, Society of Historians of the Early Republic, the Society for Industrial Archaeology, General Society of the War of 1812, the Pennsylvania Historical Association, Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution, the Heritage Center Museum, and the Southern Lancaster County Historical  Society. Jack was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and trustee of Lodge #43 of the Free & Accepted Masons. He was a member and served as the historian of the Unitarian- Universalist Church of Lancaster since 1952. He was a graduate of McCaskey High School and Millersville University with a M.A. in History and taught at Donegal High School from 1957-1992. He was a committee man for the Lancaster County Republican Party from 1956, historian of the party from 1952, and was honored this past fall for his more than 50 years of service. Few Americans have done as much to spark an interest in the history of their local community; Jack Loose was one such man. A service celebratingJack’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, 538 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster, PA. Friends may call at the Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home, 141 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. A Masonic Service will be conductedby the members of Lodge #43 F.&A.M. at the funeral home on Tuesday evening at 7:00 P.M. There will be no viewing at the church on Wednesday prior to the service. Interment in Mt. Bethel Cemetery, Columbia, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc., 213 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster, PA 17603-3519. To send an online condolence to the family, visit our website at

www.kasnyderfuneralhome.com