Kim Francis Lobring, Chief Master Sergeant, USAF, Retired, age 73 of Gulfport, Miss., died Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at his residence. Kim Lobring was born September 30, 1951, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Carl and Otillia (Herbert) Lobring; and they preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 50 years, Mary E. (nee Dickhaus) Lobring, and brothers, Virgil K. and Kirk.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His is survived by his three sons and their wives, Casey (Kim C.) and Nicole (nee Peralta) Lobring of O'Fallon, Ill.; Scott and Sandy (nee Glenn) Lobring of Leesburg, Va.; and Jason and Kristina (nee Taylor) of Creal Springs, Ill.; five grandchildren, Brenden, Kaitlynn, Tanner, Megan, and Evan; and brother, Keith Lobring, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

He entered the United States Air Force in September 1971 and retired in September 1991 as a Chief Master Sergeant. He was the senior enlisted public affairs superintendent for Military Airlift Command at the time of his retirement. His assignments included Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Griffiss AFB, N.Y.; and Scott AFB, Ill.  His decorations and medals include: Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Devices; AF Commendation Medal, 3 Devices; AF Organizational Excellence Award, 4 Devices; AF Good Conduct Medal, 5 Devices; National Defense Service Medal, 1 Device; AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon, 3 Devices; NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon; and AF Training Ribbon.

Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1991, he joined the administrative staff of McKendree (College) University in Lebanon, Ill. where he was the director of public and media relations. After living 16 years in New Baden, Ill., he and his wife moved to Carlyle, Ill. in 2003.  He retired from McKendree in August 2007. He moved to O'Fallon, Ill. in 2022; and to Gulfport, Miss. in 2024.

Kim was a former member of the American Legion in New Baden, Ill., St. Mary's Catholic Church in Carlyle, Ill., Carlyle Knights of Columbus Council 1382, St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Shiloh, Ill., and O'Fallon Knights of Columbus Council 4239.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, April 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 1411 Cross St., Shiloh, with Rev. James Deiters presiding.

Visitation will be at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church 1 hour before Mass. Immediately following the Mass, burial with military honors will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, an American military cemetery located in St. Louis County, Mo. on Friday, April 11, at 12:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials made in memory of Kim are suggested to Catholic Charities USA (catholiccharitiesusa.org), Relevant Radio (relevantradio.com), Divine Office Ministry (divineoffice.org), or Great Catholic Music (greatcatholicmusic.com).