Retired Farmer Joe Loebach Establishes Two New Scholarships

Public Information Office
6/21/2024

Retired Farmer Joe Loebach Establishes Two New Scholarships at Iowa Central Community College

Students coming to Iowa Central Community College can now apply for two new scholarships available beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year. Joe Loebach of Algona, formally of rural Burt, IA, has established the Ruth Ann and Joe Loebach Nursing Scholarship and the Joe and Ruth Ann Loebach Electrical, Ag and Industrial Tech scholarship. These endowed scholarships will provide $1,000 to one student in each of these fields.

The nursing scholarship is in memory of Joe’s wife, Ruth Ann, who passed away in 2023. She was a Certified Medical Assistant and earned a degree in Residential Care Management. She was also an active volunteer throughout her life in her church, 4H, and local politics. She earned state recognition for her volunteerism and received the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in 2018 for her many years on the Foster Care Review Board.

Ruth Ann was a believer in education and graduated as valedictorian of her high school before attending Briar Cliff College as a math major. She was a gifted gardener and skilled in the kitchen, interests and skills she passed on to her children and grandchildren through hands-on teaching.

The Ruth Ann and Joe Loebach Nursing Scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to one full or part-time student attending Iowa Central in the Nursing program. Students may be either traditional or non-traditional (21 or older). Preference will be given to parishioners from St. John’s Parish in Bancroft, St. Michael’s Parish in Whittemore, and St. Cecilia Parish in Algona.

Ruth Ann’s husband of 60 years, Joe, farmed east of Burt, IA. While he no longer farms, he strongly supported conservation practices long before it was common practice. Joe and Ruth Ann were early adopters of low-till and no-till planting practices. Additionally, Joe and Ruth Ann generated their own electricity for their acreage with a wind turbine. 

Joe, who is a veteran is also a retired electrician which inspired him to create the Joe and Ruth Ann Loebach Electrical, Ag and Industrial Tech scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship is for students attending Iowa Central Community College and majoring in one of those three areas. Preference will be given to parishioners from St. John’s Parish in Bancroft, St. Michael’s Parish in Whittemore, and St. Cecilia Parish in Algona.

The Loebach scholarships are available for the 2024-2025 academic year. Information on these scholarships and the complete list of scholarships available at Iowa Central can be found at https://www.iowacentral.edu/financial_aid/foundation_scholarships.asp