Obit: Depa, Louis, Sylvester (1927- 2014)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Depa, Posda, Ostrowski, Wiklanski, Andronowitz, Norks, Filipek, Zielke, Kaszubowski, Alger, Niedzwiecki, Simmons, Felix, Meuret

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co, WI) 5/28/2014

Depa, Louis, Sylvester (22 July 1927 - 25 May 2014) With Flag

Louis S. Depa, age 86, of Thorp, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at Ministry Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 30, 2014, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp, with Fr. William Felix and Fr. Don Meuret officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Czestochowa Catholic Cemetery, rural Stanley.

Pallbearers will be Donald Depa, Lenny Depa, Mike Wiklanski, Jeffrey Ostrowski, Bob Kaszubowski, Neil Alger, Adam Niedzwiecki and Dave Simmons. Visitation will be held at Thorp Funeral Home on Thursday, May 29, 2014 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a 7:30 p.m. combined parish and knights of Columbus rosary service. Visitation will also be held at the church, on Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Louis Sylvester Depa was born on July 22, 1927 in the Town of Thorp, the son of Paul and Anna (Posda) Depa. He was raised on the family farm and received his education at area schools. After completing high school, Louie moved to Chicago and worked at Hotpoint. In October 1950, he was drafted into the U. S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict until his discharge in 1952. As a veteran, he was proud of his country and service. When he returned home, Louie married his sweetheart, Bernice Ostrowski, on September 26, 1953 at St. James Catholic Church in Wausau. The settled in the Chicago area, where he attended technical school and received a degree in engineering. He then worked for Goss Printing and Rockwell International, where he achieved nine patents in his career. Louie never lost the inspiration to invent, and was always thinking of new ideas to put into play.

Louis and Bernice celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year and had a good, long life together. They traveled the country and around the world and took many cruises. They were a loving couple and touched many lived, including 17 godchildren they thought of as their own. In addition to being an avid traveler, Louie love listening and dancing to polka music.

He was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church, a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus Queen of Peace Council #4634 of Thorp, and a member of the Thorp American Legion Post #118.

Louie is survived by his wife: Bernice of Thorp; two brothers: Peter (Alvina) Depa of Stanley, Joseph (Joan) Depa of St. John, IN; two sisters: Juliana Wiklanski of Petoskey, MI, Pauline Andronowitz of Huntington, CT; three brothers-in-law: Mike Norks of Greenwood, Wally Filipek of Niles, IL and Howard Zielke of Chicago, IL; two sisters-in-law: Marie Depa of Niles, IL and Joanne Depa of Kenosha. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews who considered Louis as their second father.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Andrew, John and Tony Depa; four sisters: Marcella Kaszubowski, Frances Norks, Helen Filipek and Agnes Zielke.

Online condolences may be expresses at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.