David Hunt Loppnow

David Hunt Loppnow, beloved son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, friend, and lifelong learner, passed away on August 17, 2026. He was born on January 2, 1934, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Lester Alfred Loppnow and Irma Iva Hunt Loppnow. He was the only sibling of Betty Jane (Loppnow) Alders, who predeceased him.

David graduated from Shorewood High School in Shorewood, Wisconsin, in 1951. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Quill and Scroll and participated in choir and theater. He went on to Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, graduating in 1955 with a degree in mathematics and economics. His lifelong curiosity and love of learning continued well beyond his formal education.

From an early age, David developed a strong interest in radio, electronics, science, and practical skills. He was deeply involved in the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, earning numerous merit badges. He also received early recognition for marksmanship and sharpshooting. His interests and discipline carried naturally into his military and professional life.

David served in the United States Navy, where he attended Officer Candidate School and completed specialized naval and electronics training. He was commissioned as an Ensign and served with Airborne Early Warning Squadron 14 in Honolulu, Hawaii, among other assignments. He received an honorable discharge in 1959 and remained proud of his military service and the leadership training he received as a Naval officer.

After his military service, David built a distinguished career in engineering, technical communications, and radar systems. He furthered his education in computer programming, electronics, project management, telemetry, and related fields. He took particular pride in his work as a technical writer and presenter, preparing papers and lectures and representing his work internationally. His career with ITT Gilfillan, from which he retired in 1992, took him throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

On June 21, 1958, David married Sharon Lee Gray in Waukegan, Illinois, beginning a marriage that would last 68 years. They honeymooned in San Francisco, California, and then moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where David continued serving in the U.S. Navy. In 1959, they moved to Santa Monica, California, where David began his career as an engineer, and later settled in Woodland Hills, California, where they raised their family and made their home.

Together, David and Sharon traveled extensively, exploring destinations throughout the world. David planned many of their journeys, and travel became one of their great, shared passions. Over the course of his life, he visited more than 60 countries, sometimes for his professional work and sometimes with Sharon, often trying to combine both business and Sharon into one trip. He carefully preserved mementos of their travels, including currencies and matchbooks, and loved learning about history, religion, cultures, and the places they visited.

David was a disciplined, organized, accomplished, and confident man who was very talented with speaking before an audience. He was recognized for his public speaking and presentation skills and enjoyed theater, opera, music, cooking, gardening, genealogy, and learning about the history of the world. He valued his college and professional friendships and was known for his strong voice and willingness to participate fully in life.

David was a devoted provider and took great pride in the life he and Sharon built together. Family was important to him, and he cared deeply about his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered as a man of high standards who valued family, friendship, learning, service, and doing things well.

David was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sharon Lee (Gray) Loppnow (2026); his son, Randall David Loppnow (2003); his sister, Betty Jane (Loppnow) Alders (2014); and two of his grandchildren, Sean Michael Loppnow (2021) and Jonathan Tyler Loppnow (2024). He is survived by his son, Jeffrey Gray Loppnow, and his wife, Kathi Loppnow; his daughter, Heather Lee (Loppnow) Briskie, and her husband, Doug Briskie; his grandchildren, Timothy Gray Loppnow and Matthew Hunt Loppnow; his great grandchild Kale Lauren Randall Loppnow; his nieces and nephew, Lisa (Alders) Lowe, Lori Alders, Wendy Alders, Lee Alders; and their families.

David will be remembered for his lifelong commitment to learning, his technical accomplishments and international career, his love of travel, his devotion to Sharon, and his many interests and friendships that enriched his life. He leaves behind a lifetime of experiences, stories, collections, photographs, and memories that will continue to connect his family to him.

Memorial Services

Catholic Funeral Mass

Friday, November 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church

32032 West Lindero Canyon Road

Westlake Village, California 91361

Reception

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Parish Hall at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church

Private Interment

The interment of David and Sharon’s ashes at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood will be private. No public service will be held at the cemetery, and attendance there is by family invitation only.

Optional Memorial Donations

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in David’s memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, supporting efforts to advance research toward better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease.