John Jude Lorber passed away peacefully on October 4, 2023, at home with his family by his side. He was 86 years old.
John was born April 8, 1937, in Springfield, Illinois. He grew up in several Midwest cities, but Springfield was his most beloved hometown. There he explored the woods and caught tadpoles with his younger brother Jim and his cousin Barb, kick-started his lifelong love of reading with Jack London and H.G. Wells, and (very briefly) owned a baby alligator ordered from the back pages of a comic book.
After graduating from Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Indiana, John earned degrees in philosophy and law at Indiana University, where he was Notes Editor of the Indiana Law Journal and graduated Order of the Coif. Following law school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps and received a commission as a first lieutenant. He received Armor Officer Training at Fort Knox, where he got his tank platoon separated overnight from the main body of the Company and consequently earned the distinction of leading the “Lost Platoon.” He fared better studying military law at the Judge Advocate General’s school in Charlottesville, Virginia.
While in law school at IU, his eye was drawn to music student Rachel Hoskins across the graduate center’s dining hall and the couple quickly fell in love. John and Rachel were married on June 15, 1963, in Wytheville, Virginia, after he completed military training. Their honeymoon consisted of a cross-country drive from Rachel’s hometown of Hillsville, Virginia, to John’s duty station at Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah, with side trips to Monument Valley and Bryce Canyon. The trip sparked a fascination with the American Southwest, to which he returned several times with his family.
John served as an Army captain and Post Judge Advocate at Fort Douglas for nearly three years. His assignments were varied but he found his most meaningful accomplishment to be discovering a way to secure military benefits for an Army officer despite her lengthy break in service. He honed his negotiating skills when ousting retired officers from the base officers club at closing every night.
John and Rachel settled in South Bend in 1966. John joined the state’s oldest law firm, Crumpacker, May, Levy & Searer, founded in 1856 and known today as May, Oberfell & Lorber. A dedicated and skilled trial lawyer and mentor to junior attorneys, he primarily practiced medical malpractice and product liability defense law until his retirement in 2002. He was on the St. Joseph County Judicial Nominating Commission and active with the Indiana State Bar Association. He was honored to have served as park board attorney during a badly needed, widescale renovation of Potawatomi Park Zoo in the 1970s that replaced cages with naturalistic habitats and focused on improving animal welfare. John would tell you, however, that the couple’s two cherished daughters, Leah and Mary Martha, are his greatest legacy.
His life was devoted primarily to his family, his enthusiasm for learning, and his community, with Notre Dame football also high on the list. The books of philosophy, science, theology, history, poetry, and literature overflowing his library were a critical and defining part of his life. He enjoyed debates with friends in his “Tuesday Talkers” group, anchoring his perspective in the rule of law and his sense of morality. John approached life with curiosity, a dry but gentle sense of humor, and a strong concern for others that was reflected in his personal interactions and in his contributions to the South Bend community.
John served on the boards of a number of organizations including Corvilla, Inc., which provides life-enriching activities and employment services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He did pro bono legal work for South Bend area residents through the Legal Services Program of Northern Indiana, as well as for the Big Sisters organization. He served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church and later on the personnel committee at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, and joined his wife singing in the churches’ choirs. He was a member of the South Bend Jaycees and the Orak Shrine of Michigan City.
John was also deeply involved in Scottish Rite. He received his Master Mason degree in Portage Lodge #675, South Bend, in October 1970 and affiliated with St. Joseph Lodge #45 in December 2001, where he maintained his current membership. He received his 32° in the Valley of South Bend in April 1973. He served as an officer in the Lodge of Perfection line for several years, before becoming the presiding officer of that body in 1981-1982. He was honored in receiving the 33° on September 25, 1985, in Detroit. This is the highest degree achievable in Scottish Rite and is only presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond in serving the organization.
He is survived by his wife, Rachel; his daughters Leah Lorber (David Tarler) of Washington, D.C., and Mary Martha Lorber (Matthew Wiltsie) of Ashburn, Virginia; and his cousin Barbara Rees of Springfield, Illinois. He is preceded in death by his parents, John W. Lorber and Lavina K. (Welle) Lorber, and his brother, James Lorber.
A private memorial service is planned. Memorial contributions may be made to Corvilla, Inc.,3620 Deahl Ct., South Bend, IN 46628, the Scottish Rite scholarship fund, www. scottishrite.org/philanthropy/scholarships/; or any local animal rescue organization.
Palmer Funeral Home – Welsheimer Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
