In the early morning hours of December 28 Louis was sent on his final journey listening to the sound of his wife and daughters singing him on his way. After a hard-fought battle over the past year he was very tired, and as much as he fought to stay - it wasn’t meant to be.

 

Louis will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, sense of humour and his devotion to friends and family. When he wasn’t at work he would be found clearing snow or cutting grass for his neighbours, lending a hand for any neighbourhood project or just puttering around his yard. Sundays were for watching NASCAR, often with his sister Mike (Vicki) and his evenings were for fishing on the River with his wife and/or his sister Nicci.

 

Louis will be lovingly remembered by Pamela his wife of 37 years, his daughters Sunnie-Marie (Raymond Moss) and Pamela-Dawn (Cody McGregor). His grandchildren Nathan Moss and Nya Moss. His brother Walter (Patsy) and sisters Vicki (Bruce), Nicci (Barry) and Michele. He will live on in the hearts of his in-laws (the Smith family), many nieces and nephews and his many great friends. Louis was predeceased by his parents Nick and Helen Kozie and his mother and father in law Shirley and Gerald Smith.

 

Fifteen years ago Louis and Pam had the opportunity to move back to Pam’s childhood neighbourhood in West Bay on the Winnipeg River. Away from the busy life of the ‘Peg they found their little piece of heaven and were truly happy with this new lifestyle. Louis was able to reconnect with his brother Walter and they become great buddies. His sister Michele was so happy to have him close and Louis was happy to have her watch over him so lovingly.

 

Louis was very proud of his daughters. Pamela-Dawn - never afraid to challenge the stereotypes of the work of women. She became a long haul truck driver. Louis cried when he waved her off on her first long haul and he was still crying when he called her a few moments later to tell her, “don’t forget to write down your state line mileages!” Or of his pride when she became an engineer for CPR. The smile on his face the first time she rolled past his house said everything.

 

Sunnie-Marie’s fierce independence and ability to stand on her own were lessons she learned from her Dad. His grandchildren Nathan and Nya were the icing on his cake of happiness. Teaching them to drive the boat and how to fish were some of his fondest memories.

 

To know Lou was to love him. Once you met him you were a friend for life. Our little neighbourhood, his family and friends will miss him dearly. He enriched our lives and he will not be forgotten.

 

A celebration of Sweet Lou’s life will happen at a later date.

 

The family would like to extend their thanks for the exceptional care of the medical community and staff of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital. The respect shown to Louis and his family during his last moments will not be forgotten. Of particular note is the locum program at the Hospital. Without the expertise of those visiting doctors we believe we would not have had Louis for as long as we did.