Louis (Louie) W. Houdek, 98, of Leland, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 at home with his loving family at his side.
Louie was born May 10, 1922 in Omena the son of Clarence and Mary (Sedlacek) Houdek. On Oct. 2, 1948 at St. Wenceslaus Church of Gills Pier he married Geraldine G. (Maleski) Houdek who preceded him in death on Feb. 13, 2013.
Louie attended the Bass Lake School and left after 8th grade to work on the family farm. Children in those days would get a couple weeks of potato vacation to bring in the harvest. Louie and his father, Clarence; would use a two-person tree saw, cut the firewood for the school, and deliver it with a horse and sleigh.
Louie then served his nation in the U.S. Army during WWII as a member of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. As a member of the 82nd Airborne 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, he combat dropped behind Nazi enemy lines on the D-Day allied invasion of Normandy, France.
He and his brothers of the 507th participated in the D-Day invasion, the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. He earned four bronze stars, a bronze arrowhead, two bronze stars on his jump badge, the combat infantryman badge, and numerous other awards.
After the war, Louie returned home and began his life-long career as a carpenter, where he worked on many homes in Leelanau County. Louie and his daughter, Deb, loved watching Detroit Tigers baseball. He loved the outdoors, taking hikes, ice fishing and hunting with his sons, and growing tomatoes with vines taller than him.
In recent years, Louie enjoyed a “pop” at his son Jerry’s garage, taking in the beauty of the farm and the day.
Louie is survived by his two children, Jerry (Julie) Houdek, Debbie (Ric) Cook; five grandchildren, Jason (Krista) Krohn, Amy (Michael) Pallo, Gerald (Heather) Houdek, Jr., Rachel Anderson, and Vanessa (Houdek) Berten; his seven great grandchildren, Brady, Ethan, Travis, and Savannah Krohn, Jacob and Cameron Pallo, and Stella and Emerson Houdek.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Jeffery L. Houdek, a sister, Mary Holcomb, a brother, Henry Houdek, and his loving wife of sixty-four years, Geraldine.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 4, at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery of Gills Pier. Deacon Martin Korson will officiate.
Louie was born May 10, 1922 in Omena the son of Clarence and Mary (Sedlacek) Houdek. On Oct. 2, 1948 at St. Wenceslaus Church of Gills Pier he married Geraldine G. (Maleski) Houdek who preceded him in death on Feb. 13, 2013.
Louie attended the Bass Lake School and left after 8th grade to work on the family farm. Children in those days would get a couple weeks of potato vacation to bring in the harvest. Louie and his father, Clarence; would use a two-person tree saw, cut the firewood for the school, and deliver it with a horse and sleigh.
Louie then served his nation in the U.S. Army during WWII as a member of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. As a member of the 82nd Airborne 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, he combat dropped behind Nazi enemy lines on the D-Day allied invasion of Normandy, France.
He and his brothers of the 507th participated in the D-Day invasion, the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. He earned four bronze stars, a bronze arrowhead, two bronze stars on his jump badge, the combat infantryman badge, and numerous other awards.
After the war, Louie returned home and began his life-long career as a carpenter, where he worked on many homes in Leelanau County. Louie and his daughter, Deb, loved watching Detroit Tigers baseball. He loved the outdoors, taking hikes, ice fishing and hunting with his sons, and growing tomatoes with vines taller than him.
In recent years, Louie enjoyed a “pop” at his son Jerry’s garage, taking in the beauty of the farm and the day.
Louie is survived by his two children, Jerry (Julie) Houdek, Debbie (Ric) Cook; five grandchildren, Jason (Krista) Krohn, Amy (Michael) Pallo, Gerald (Heather) Houdek, Jr., Rachel Anderson, and Vanessa (Houdek) Berten; his seven great grandchildren, Brady, Ethan, Travis, and Savannah Krohn, Jacob and Cameron Pallo, and Stella and Emerson Houdek.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Jeffery L. Houdek, a sister, Mary Holcomb, a brother, Henry Houdek, and his loving wife of sixty-four years, Geraldine.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 4, at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery of Gills Pier. Deacon Martin Korson will officiate.
Louis (Louie) W. Houdek, 98, of Leland, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 at home with his loving family at his side.
Louie was born May 10, 1922 in Omena the son of Clarence and Mary (Sedlacek) Houdek. On Oct. 2, 1948 at St. Wenceslaus Church of Gills Pier he married Geraldine G. (Maleski) Houdek who preceded him in death on Feb. 13, 2013.
Louie attended the Bass Lake School and left after 8th grade to work on the family farm. Children in those days would get a couple weeks of potato vacation to bring in the harvest. Louie and his father, Clarence; would use a two-person tree saw, cut the firewood for the school, and deliver it with a horse and sleigh.
Louie then served his nation in the U.S. Army during WWII as a member of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. As a member of the 82nd Airborne 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, he combat dropped behind Nazi enemy lines on the D-Day allied invasion of Normandy, France.
He and his brothers of the 507th participated in the D-Day invasion, the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. He earned four bronze stars, a bronze arrowhead, two bronze stars on his jump badge, the combat infantryman badge, and numerous other awards.
After the war, Louie returned home and began his life-long career as a carpenter, where he worked on many homes in Leelanau County. Louie and his daughter, Deb, loved watching Detroit Tigers baseball. He loved the outdoors, taking hikes, ice fishing and hunting with his sons, and growing tomatoes with vines taller than him.
In recent years, Louie enjoyed a “pop” at his son Jerry’s garage, taking in the beauty of the farm and the day.
Louie is survived by his two children, Jerry (Julie) Houdek, Debbie (Ric) Cook; five grandchildren, Jason (Krista) Krohn, Amy (Michael) Pallo, Gerald (Heather) Houdek, Jr., Rachel Anderson, and Vanessa (Houdek) Berten; his seven great grandchildren, Brady, Ethan, Travis, and Savannah Krohn, Jacob and Cameron Pallo, and Stella and Emerson Houdek.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Jeffery L. Houdek, a sister, Mary Holcomb, a brother, Henry Houdek, and his loving wife of sixty-four years, Geraldine.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 4, at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery of Gills Pier. Deacon Martin Korson will officiate.
Louie was born May 10, 1922 in Omena the son of Clarence and Mary (Sedlacek) Houdek. On Oct. 2, 1948 at St. Wenceslaus Church of Gills Pier he married Geraldine G. (Maleski) Houdek who preceded him in death on Feb. 13, 2013.
Louie attended the Bass Lake School and left after 8th grade to work on the family farm. Children in those days would get a couple weeks of potato vacation to bring in the harvest. Louie and his father, Clarence; would use a two-person tree saw, cut the firewood for the school, and deliver it with a horse and sleigh.
Louie then served his nation in the U.S. Army during WWII as a member of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. As a member of the 82nd Airborne 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, he combat dropped behind Nazi enemy lines on the D-Day allied invasion of Normandy, France.
He and his brothers of the 507th participated in the D-Day invasion, the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. He earned four bronze stars, a bronze arrowhead, two bronze stars on his jump badge, the combat infantryman badge, and numerous other awards.
After the war, Louie returned home and began his life-long career as a carpenter, where he worked on many homes in Leelanau County. Louie and his daughter, Deb, loved watching Detroit Tigers baseball. He loved the outdoors, taking hikes, ice fishing and hunting with his sons, and growing tomatoes with vines taller than him.
In recent years, Louie enjoyed a “pop” at his son Jerry’s garage, taking in the beauty of the farm and the day.
Louie is survived by his two children, Jerry (Julie) Houdek, Debbie (Ric) Cook; five grandchildren, Jason (Krista) Krohn, Amy (Michael) Pallo, Gerald (Heather) Houdek, Jr., Rachel Anderson, and Vanessa (Houdek) Berten; his seven great grandchildren, Brady, Ethan, Travis, and Savannah Krohn, Jacob and Cameron Pallo, and Stella and Emerson Houdek.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Jeffery L. Houdek, a sister, Mary Holcomb, a brother, Henry Houdek, and his loving wife of sixty-four years, Geraldine.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 4, at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery of Gills Pier. Deacon Martin Korson will officiate.
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