Obituary of Norwood Louis

Norwood C. “Bud” Louis, 79, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 7th – due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was just an hour and ten minutes short of his eightieth birthday. To attempt to put into words the essence of a man like Bud is next to impossible. May this obituary in some small way convey how much his life touched so many people. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 15, 2005, at the Parkview Evangelical Free Church in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 11am until services on Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Bud’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. In 1925, as Bud would tell you, “…I was born at a very early age, to mixed parents – a man and a woman,” Norwood “Dutch” and Helen Louis. Five years after his birth his brother Hank was born – he jokes he would have rather gotten a Buddy “L” toy train that year. Bud spent his childhood helping his father at the family Rexall Drug Store, going to see Gary Cooper movies, and causing a reasonable amount of trouble. With the U.S. Entrance in WWII came Bud’s renewed interest in joining the war effort. He enlisted and was soon a right waist gunner on a B-17 – watching for submarines off the U.S. East Coast. Not long after the war he met Betty Morgan of Oxford, IA. They have two children; Gary and Shari. Gary married Marie Louis of Victor, IA and they have one daughter, Mary, 23. Shari married Jesus Vazquez of Omaha, NE, and they have 3 children; Benjamin, 15; Joseph, 12; and Nena, 4. Bud played for the Hawkeye Football team in 1943 and maintained his love for the Hawks until the end. He spent a total of almost 44 years in the military – from a platoon leader for the 34th Infantry division, to a company commander for the 103rd. He received a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Iowa in 1951 and worked at the family store as well as night Pharmacist at Mercy Hospital. During the 1970’s and 80’s Bud was the contracting engineer for the Old Capital Mall and led the construction of the City Park Pool, Faith Baptist Church, the Light and Power Building, and several other residential projects. Bud was an active participant in local government and a cherished humanitarian. His work with the F.A.M.S.C.O. Foundation during the 1990’s provided the country of Guatemala with countless fire trucks, ambulances, and buses filled with medical supplies. He was a member of the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and a winner of the Service Above Self, Will Hayek, and Irving Weber Awards. Collecting and restoring antique cars and fire trucks, mountain climbing, discussing the civil war, and listening to his wife, Betty, play the piano were among some of Bud’s favorite pastimes. Bud wrote weekly “Behind the Counter” articles for the Gazette from 1999-2003. These articles looked back at the interesting people, events, and history of the Iowa City area – always filled with interesting facts and humorous “Budisms.” Bud will be most remembered for his love of God, Country, family and friends. He could find humor in any situation and had an incredible rapport with people. The void left in the hearts of those who knew him will be immense. The family of Bud Louis would like to express their most heartfelt appreciation for the wonderful care he received at Pathways Adult Daycare and Windmill Manor. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Bud’s family and his services.