John passed away Monday, September 19, 2016, at his home in Roseburg. He was born September 8, 1927, to Merle John Loosley and Helen Zbinden Loosley of Malin, Oregon.

John graduated from Malin High School and Oregon State University where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering in 1949. He married Jean Harris in 1948, at Summer Lake, Oregon. Jean and John moved to Roseburg in 1952, when John took a job as City Engineer for the City of Roseburg. In 1955, John went to work for Roseburg Paving Company. He and Jean bought the business in 1965. John grew the business over the years. In 1965, there were eight employees and in 2000, when the Loosley family sold the businesses - Roseburg Paving, Beaver State Sand, and Gravel and Beaver State Ready Mix –to Knife River, there were over 200 employees.

John was committed to excellence and integrity in business - Roseburg Paving received numerous excellence awards from the Oregon Asphalt Paving Association.

John was a community servant and an exceptional leader. The impact of John’s commitment to giving back and his generosity can be seen throughout Douglas County. Over the years John served on and led many Boards, including the YMCA, Roseburg Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America, Community Cancer Foundation, The Wildlife Safari, Umpqua Community College Foundation, Family Development Center, Douglas County Industrial Development Board, and Sunrise Enterprises. In addition, he was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and more recently was involved with Redeemer’s Fellowship Church. Professionally, John chaired the Oregon Asphalt Paving Association board and served on the boards of directors of the National Asphalt Paving Association, the Oregon Chapter of the Associated General Contractors and the Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association. He also served on the board of Douglas National Bank.

John’s service to the community was widely recognized. He was awarded the Roseburg Chamber of Commerce First Citizen Award in 1983. He received the Silver Beaver in 1978 for his contributions to the Boy Scouts. In 1988, he was named the Outstand Business Leader of Douglas County. In addition, he received numerous other awards in recognition of his service to the community. In 2006, he was elected to the Oregon State University School of Engineering Hall of Fame for his work in engineering and for his civic involvement. John demonstrated his gratitude for the education he received from Oregon State through his lifelong involvement with the university and his unwavering support of the Beavers.

John is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jean Harris Loosley; his son, Steve Loosley and his wife Shelley Briggs Loosley, both of Roseburg; and his daughter Judy Loosley Sweeney and her husband Dennis, both of San Juan Capistrano, CA; his granddaughters, Katherine Loosley and Megan Sweeney; and his grandson Andrew Sweeney.

John was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Dorothy Loosley Wissenback.

John was a member of Redeemers Fellowship Church.

The Celebration of Life service for John will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016, at Redeemer’s Fellowship Church in Roseburg at 11:00 a.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in John’s memory to Sunrise Enterprises, The Friendly Kitchen, or Redeemer’s Church Benevolence Fund.