Advertisement

Louis Francis Papousek

Advertisement

Louis Francis Papousek

Birth
Gregory County, South Dakota, USA
Death
11 Apr 2016 (aged 91)
Malibu, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial
Gregory, Gregory County, South Dakota, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
LOUIS FRANCIS PAPOUSEK
Louis (Louie or Lou) Francis Papousek was born October 28, 1924 near Gregory, South Dakota to Joseph B. and Frances (Musilek) Papousek and went to his eternal home on April 11, 2016, at the home of his daughter, Margo Dunn, in Malibu, California.

Louie grew up on the family farm near Gregory with his parents and siblings: Agnes, Joe (Joseph C), Bob (Robert), and Donna. Louie lived a full and diverse life filled with adventure and many rewarding experiences. He attended a one-room county schoolhouse which was later moved to Gregory and is now known as the Gregory Historical Schoolhouse. He was a smart student so was able to skip a grade. He left school during the 9th grade, but never stopped learning and trying new things. His parents eventually sold the farm and moved to Burke and opened up a café. His father passed away in 1948 and his mother passed away in 1965, both in Burke.

Louie was a mechanic extraordinaire and could fix anything! He proudly enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country during WWII from March 1944 – May 1946 in the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign as a Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class. A highlight in Louie’s life was traveling to Washington, D.C. on the Honor Flight in September, 2010 to view the WWII Memorial. Over the years, Louie was a member of the American Legion and Elks Club.

Louie and Vera Luree Willuweit started dating after meeting at a dance. In 1948, they made their first trip to California along with his mother, Frances Papousek and future step-father Anton Nikodym. Louie was baptized and confirmed on February 21, 1949 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Burke. He was united in marriage to Vera at the same church on April 17, 1949. To this union, one daughter, Margo, was born one year later. The family continued to embrace the Lutheran faith throughout their years together.

In the early years of their marriage, Louie had numerous jobs including working in the oil fields of Wyoming, as a carpenter, delivering Storz beer in Burke, and working in auto shops in Martin and Winner. In 1959 Louie and Vera sold their house in Winner and followed his brother Bob to Tucson, Arizona. Bob and Louie continued to support each other over the rest of their lives. The next summer, Louie took a job at the San Manuel, Arizona copper smelter where they became lifelong friends with Fred and Sally Littau.

In 1962 the family moved to California next door to Louis and Dorothy Hegge where Louie became an owner/operator of a Caterpillar tractor, often working for Gary Inglett and with many former South Dakotans such as Gary’s brother, Neal, and Clifford and Hertha Freeman. Vera served as his office manager and bookkeeper. Later he invested in a dendrite rock business with Bob Stober. Louie fondly remembered the time that he spent up in the mountains in Beaver, Utah living the life of a “mountain man”, drinking the spring water, breathing in the fresh air, and growing a beard. He enjoyed creating belt buckles, clocks, and other art pieces with the picturesque dendrite rock giving them to family and friends as presents.

In 1990 Louie and Vera retired to Wall, SD. In addition to spending the winter months with their daughter and her family in Malibu, they took many exciting vacation trips ranging from the Butchart Gardens in Vancouver, Canada to the Redwood Forest of California to Cape Canaveral and the Epcot Center in Florida visiting family and friends on the way.

Vera suffered strokes in 1996 and 2000, so they moved to Silver Threads in Gregory in 2001 to be closer to their siblings. Four years later Vera entered the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center. Until Vera’s passing in 2010, Louie was a faithful and loving spouse visiting and feeding Vera almost every day when he was in Gregory. He made sure that there was always cake and ice cream served at the nursing home for her birthday and their anniversary.

Louie continued to spend part of the year with Margo. March, 2011, while in Malibu, Louie suffered a heart attack, but he was determined to recover so that he could attend the 4th of July wedding of his only grandchild, Sean Dunn, to Megan Myer in Dayton, Oregon. One week after returning to Malibu in October, Louie suffered the first of a series of major strokes that required him to receive 24/7 care at Margo’s home until his passing. Visits by family members were the highlight of his final years - especially visits by his remaining sibling, Donna Fode, in person, or via Skype. Niece Patti (Papousek) Ciasca worked as a partner with Margo to care for “Uncle Louie” during his final years.

Louie enjoyed fresh and salt water fishing, scuba diving, hunting, being outdoors, Cadillacs, traveling, science and history shows, westerns, Lawrence Welk, and eating. He was creative and would tackle any project with his “can do” attitude such as making a swing set out of scrap metal or restoring an upright piano. He found his pocket knife indispensable and often gave them away as gifts. He was the family photographer taking pictures of every event, such as the Willuweit/Ring family reunions. He believed in the value of hard work, perseverance, and commitment to his immediate and extended family. Louie’s smile, generosity, unconditional love, and support will be missed by all those who knew him.

Louie was preceded in death by his parents Joseph B Papousek, Frances (Musilek) Papousek; step-father Anton Nikodym; his wife Vera; in-laws Rudolph and Bertha (Ring) Willuweit; son-in-law Richard C Dunn; sister Agnes and husbands Frank Remter and John VerMaas; brothers Joseph and wife Laverle (Remter) Papousek, Robert and wives Evelyn (Hall) Papousek and Betty (Drey) Mason Papousek; brothers-in-law Edwin Fode, Henry Kortmeyer, Ervin Willuweit, Marvin Jones; sister-in-law: Lena (Willuweit) Miller and niece Agnetta Tiedeman.

Louie is survived by his daughter Margo Dunn of Malibu, CA; grandson and wife, Sean and Megan (Myer) Dunn of Hillsboro, OR; sister Donna Fode of Rochester, MN; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Elsie (Willuweit) Kortmeyer of Bonesteel, SD, Delbert Miller of Burke, SD, Inez (Willuweit) Jones of Burke, SD, Doris (Willuweit) and Lew Bailey of Tyndall, SD, Ilah-Lee (Staack) Willuweit of Gregory, SD; and a host of nephews, nieces, and other family and friends.

Following the Friday night prayer service, funeral services were held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 10:30 AM, six years to the day that his beloved wife was buried, at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory with Pastor Clark Gies, officiating. Geoff Smith sang “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”, pianist was Leanne Sinclair, Ben and Sally Kolbe were in charge of registration, Gaile Sachtjen and Jody Young served as flower attendants. Casket Bearers were: Duane Papousek, Richard Papousek, Mark Papousek, Wade Fode, Paul Hamilton, and Randy Sachtjen. Honorary casket bearers were: grandson, Sean Dunn, and Louie’s nieces: Connie Hargett, Linda Hamilton, Nancie Prager, Patti Ciasca, Barbara Romero, Myrna Bleeker, Valerie Rolf, Gaile Sachtjen, Lavonne Fode, Lanette Fode, and Vera’s nieces and nephews. Burial was at the Czech National Cemetery in Gregory with military honors provided by the Gregory Legion & Naval Honor Guard.

Donations were given to the Czech National Cemetery, Gregory, South Dakota.

Photo and obit courtesy of Margo Papousek Dunn

LOUIS FRANCIS PAPOUSEK
Louis (Louie or Lou) Francis Papousek was born October 28, 1924 near Gregory, South Dakota to Joseph B. and Frances (Musilek) Papousek and went to his eternal home on April 11, 2016, at the home of his daughter, Margo Dunn, in Malibu, California.

Louie grew up on the family farm near Gregory with his parents and siblings: Agnes, Joe (Joseph C), Bob (Robert), and Donna. Louie lived a full and diverse life filled with adventure and many rewarding experiences. He attended a one-room county schoolhouse which was later moved to Gregory and is now known as the Gregory Historical Schoolhouse. He was a smart student so was able to skip a grade. He left school during the 9th grade, but never stopped learning and trying new things. His parents eventually sold the farm and moved to Burke and opened up a café. His father passed away in 1948 and his mother passed away in 1965, both in Burke.

Louie was a mechanic extraordinaire and could fix anything! He proudly enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country during WWII from March 1944 – May 1946 in the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign as a Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class. A highlight in Louie’s life was traveling to Washington, D.C. on the Honor Flight in September, 2010 to view the WWII Memorial. Over the years, Louie was a member of the American Legion and Elks Club.

Louie and Vera Luree Willuweit started dating after meeting at a dance. In 1948, they made their first trip to California along with his mother, Frances Papousek and future step-father Anton Nikodym. Louie was baptized and confirmed on February 21, 1949 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Burke. He was united in marriage to Vera at the same church on April 17, 1949. To this union, one daughter, Margo, was born one year later. The family continued to embrace the Lutheran faith throughout their years together.

In the early years of their marriage, Louie had numerous jobs including working in the oil fields of Wyoming, as a carpenter, delivering Storz beer in Burke, and working in auto shops in Martin and Winner. In 1959 Louie and Vera sold their house in Winner and followed his brother Bob to Tucson, Arizona. Bob and Louie continued to support each other over the rest of their lives. The next summer, Louie took a job at the San Manuel, Arizona copper smelter where they became lifelong friends with Fred and Sally Littau.

In 1962 the family moved to California next door to Louis and Dorothy Hegge where Louie became an owner/operator of a Caterpillar tractor, often working for Gary Inglett and with many former South Dakotans such as Gary’s brother, Neal, and Clifford and Hertha Freeman. Vera served as his office manager and bookkeeper. Later he invested in a dendrite rock business with Bob Stober. Louie fondly remembered the time that he spent up in the mountains in Beaver, Utah living the life of a “mountain man”, drinking the spring water, breathing in the fresh air, and growing a beard. He enjoyed creating belt buckles, clocks, and other art pieces with the picturesque dendrite rock giving them to family and friends as presents.

In 1990 Louie and Vera retired to Wall, SD. In addition to spending the winter months with their daughter and her family in Malibu, they took many exciting vacation trips ranging from the Butchart Gardens in Vancouver, Canada to the Redwood Forest of California to Cape Canaveral and the Epcot Center in Florida visiting family and friends on the way.

Vera suffered strokes in 1996 and 2000, so they moved to Silver Threads in Gregory in 2001 to be closer to their siblings. Four years later Vera entered the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center. Until Vera’s passing in 2010, Louie was a faithful and loving spouse visiting and feeding Vera almost every day when he was in Gregory. He made sure that there was always cake and ice cream served at the nursing home for her birthday and their anniversary.

Louie continued to spend part of the year with Margo. March, 2011, while in Malibu, Louie suffered a heart attack, but he was determined to recover so that he could attend the 4th of July wedding of his only grandchild, Sean Dunn, to Megan Myer in Dayton, Oregon. One week after returning to Malibu in October, Louie suffered the first of a series of major strokes that required him to receive 24/7 care at Margo’s home until his passing. Visits by family members were the highlight of his final years - especially visits by his remaining sibling, Donna Fode, in person, or via Skype. Niece Patti (Papousek) Ciasca worked as a partner with Margo to care for “Uncle Louie” during his final years.

Louie enjoyed fresh and salt water fishing, scuba diving, hunting, being outdoors, Cadillacs, traveling, science and history shows, westerns, Lawrence Welk, and eating. He was creative and would tackle any project with his “can do” attitude such as making a swing set out of scrap metal or restoring an upright piano. He found his pocket knife indispensable and often gave them away as gifts. He was the family photographer taking pictures of every event, such as the Willuweit/Ring family reunions. He believed in the value of hard work, perseverance, and commitment to his immediate and extended family. Louie’s smile, generosity, unconditional love, and support will be missed by all those who knew him.

Louie was preceded in death by his parents Joseph B Papousek, Frances (Musilek) Papousek; step-father Anton Nikodym; his wife Vera; in-laws Rudolph and Bertha (Ring) Willuweit; son-in-law Richard C Dunn; sister Agnes and husbands Frank Remter and John VerMaas; brothers Joseph and wife Laverle (Remter) Papousek, Robert and wives Evelyn (Hall) Papousek and Betty (Drey) Mason Papousek; brothers-in-law Edwin Fode, Henry Kortmeyer, Ervin Willuweit, Marvin Jones; sister-in-law: Lena (Willuweit) Miller and niece Agnetta Tiedeman.

Louie is survived by his daughter Margo Dunn of Malibu, CA; grandson and wife, Sean and Megan (Myer) Dunn of Hillsboro, OR; sister Donna Fode of Rochester, MN; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Elsie (Willuweit) Kortmeyer of Bonesteel, SD, Delbert Miller of Burke, SD, Inez (Willuweit) Jones of Burke, SD, Doris (Willuweit) and Lew Bailey of Tyndall, SD, Ilah-Lee (Staack) Willuweit of Gregory, SD; and a host of nephews, nieces, and other family and friends.

Following the Friday night prayer service, funeral services were held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 10:30 AM, six years to the day that his beloved wife was buried, at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory with Pastor Clark Gies, officiating. Geoff Smith sang “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”, pianist was Leanne Sinclair, Ben and Sally Kolbe were in charge of registration, Gaile Sachtjen and Jody Young served as flower attendants. Casket Bearers were: Duane Papousek, Richard Papousek, Mark Papousek, Wade Fode, Paul Hamilton, and Randy Sachtjen. Honorary casket bearers were: grandson, Sean Dunn, and Louie’s nieces: Connie Hargett, Linda Hamilton, Nancie Prager, Patti Ciasca, Barbara Romero, Myrna Bleeker, Valerie Rolf, Gaile Sachtjen, Lavonne Fode, Lanette Fode, and Vera’s nieces and nephews. Burial was at the Czech National Cemetery in Gregory with military honors provided by the Gregory Legion & Naval Honor Guard.

Donations were given to the Czech National Cemetery, Gregory, South Dakota.

Photo and obit courtesy of Margo Papousek Dunn



Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement