Wayne Loeffler: A life of achievement

The past couple of months have been a brief breather in what has been an otherwise hectic and full life of community service for Wayne Loeffler.

Loeffler retired in November after six years as chief and 36 years overall serving the Bigfork Fire Department. It was the second retirement for Loeffler, who has been a part of the community for four decades.

“He’s just a tremendous public servant,” Bigfork Schools Superintendent Matthew Jensen said. Jensen worked with Loeffler for 12 years. “The guy has been involved with everything from athletics to the work he has done as fire chief. There is just not a whole lot he has not been involved with.”

Jensen said the former principal of Bigfork Middle School is known by most people who call the village home.

Jensen said Loeffler has a reputation for accomplishing goals.

“You can tell he is really intent on getting things done, but he is first and foremost interested in the people,” Jensen said. “He still helps run the track meets and in between events you will see him talking to the kids, asking them what is going on in their lives. He’s purposeful, he’s intent, but he is very considerate about the individual person.”

Loeffler grew up in Conrad, a tiny town of about 2,100 people located an hour’s drive from Great Falls and went to Western Montana in Dillon, where he played college football.

He had aspirations of becoming a physical education teacher and soon realized that he had taken enough classes to also get certified as an advanced biology instructor, so he graduated with two specialties.

His first job out of college was as the biology and P.E. teacher at Bigfork High School. He arrived in fall 1975 and never left.

“The thing I first think of when I think of Wayne is a lifetime achievement award,” Jensen said. “He is just constant and has his hands in so many different things. He has been very involved with the community for such a long time.”

Loeffler found his niche early and started coaching freshman boys basketball in 1975. He became the school’s longtime boys track coach in 1978 and served as head football coach from 1980 to 1985.

 He worked for two decades as the school’s activity director before he made the leap from teacher and coach to administrator. In his teaching, he tried to leave students with the idea that they could do whatever they wanted as long as they were willing to put in the effort.

“You are going to be as successful as you want to be,” Loeffler said. “I grew up on a farm where you always go by work ethic. Work ethic is huge. It will pay dividends down the road at some point, some time. My philosophy is work hard and do the best you can. Things will happen down the road.”

Loeffler retired from education in 2009 after serving many years as middle school principal.

“I went into a second generation,” Loeffler said of working with youths whose parents he had taught. “That was fun.”

Loeffler’s first career was followed by another half-decade of working with another skills et that he spent a lot of time mastering: firefighting.

Before his career as an administrator took off, Loeffler spent his summers, beginning in 1978, fighting wildfires.

In 1979 he joined the Bigfork Fire Department as a volunteer. He eventually became a certified medical responder, too. His work fighting wildland fires lasted nine summers, until it took up too much time that could have been dedicated toward extra education required for an administrative certification.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Loeffler said. “It might sound kind of weird, but I like the fire-type stuff ... It’s one of those things where you like it or you don’t. I really liked the wildland, not so much the structure fires, but it’s one of those things where neighbors are helping neighbors.”

During Loeffler’s time as chief, the town’s ambulance service and fire department managed to merge into a sustainable emergency response enterprise.

“At first it was a challenge to get things up and going but now it’s very viable,” Loeffler said. He was also happy with the relationship the department was able to build with Creston and Ferndale fire departments during his time at the helm.

However, the increased call volume from the merger also meant increased stress in an already trying job, and in November Loeffler decided it was time to let someone else step up.

During his time off since then, he has done some ice fishing and enjoyed rest, although sitting still doesn’t come easy. He has plans to possibly pick up a school bus route and is ready to go for track season.

He volunteers to help his wife, Susan, who still coaches the Bigfork High School girls track team. She is entering her 42nd year as a teacher at the school. In December, she was named the Girls Class B Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Loeffler counts the opportunity to coach with his wife as one of his blessings.

“We we were very fortunate to be able to coach together,” Loeffler said.

Other than those activities, Loeffler is not sure what the future holds. He said there are many more people in the community who have done more than he has, but Interim Fire Chief Mick Borges said he has left a big set of shoes to fill.

“He has been a pillar of our community for years and years and years,” Borges said.

Loeffler’s advice for young people hoping to live a good life was simple.

“Work hard,” Loeffler said. “Do the best that you can. Keep your nose clean. Be respectful of everybody, regardless of what your thoughts are, or your beliefs. Be well.”