Louis John “Louie” Demers
Louis John “Louie” Demers passed away Monday, July 22, 2024, at the age of 100 in Blessing Hospital. Louie was born in Quincy on September 3, 1923, the son of John L. and Irene T. (Rupp) Demers. He married his soulmate, Alice M. Belker on October 22, 1946, in St. Francis Catholic Church. Alice preceded him in death on April 17, 2013. This union was blessed with one daughter, Mary Alice, of Quincy.
Louie is a combat veteran of WWII. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 prior to the United States’ entry into WW II and was based at Pearl Harbor. For the duration of WWII, he served in the Pacific Theater as a radio operator aboard the USS McCall, USS Boston, and USS Vicksburg, earning the rank of Radioman 1st class. During this time, Louie earned 22 major battle stars including Battles of Wake Island, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Aleutian Islands, Tarawa, Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Louie witnessed the first flag raising at Iwo Jima and the signing of the peace treaty with Japan on September 2, 1945. Louie also served as a communications instructor during the Korean War.
Louie retired from the FAA as an air traffic control specialist at Quincy Regional Airport/Baldwin Field after 31years of service. He then was the manager at Heetco Jet Center at Baldwin Field for 10 years. Louie was an accomplished pilot with commercial, instrument, multi-engine, and flight instructor ratings. Louie was recognized with the Master Pilot Award from the FAA in 2005. Louie was also named to the IL Aviation Hall of Fame in 2012.
Following his retirement from full-time employment, Louie worked 25 years as a lifeguard, CPR, First Aid, and Lifeguard Instructor, swim instructor, and Safety Coordinator at the YMCA and other area pools until pandemic-related shutdowns. Louie was recognized as the Guinness World Record holder as the oldest active lifeguard in the world.
In 2007, Louie began working as a funeral associate at Duker and Haugh Funeral Home.
Louie was raised in St. John Catholic Parish and attended school there. He was the original bugler for St. John’s Boy Scout Troop #1. He subsequently played cornet/trumpet for the Pete Veile Orchestra in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Louie has been an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church since his marriage in 1946. He also has been an active community volunteer. He was honored with the KHQA Hometown Hero Award in 2023. He was a proud life member of the Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club and continued to attend meetings up until the time of his death. Louie was a member of the Quincy Park Band Board of Directors, Knights of Columbus, was recognized for 25 years of volunteer service to the Red Cross and was a member of the American Legion and several aviation organizations. Louie was an amateur radio operator and was involved in various emergency response efforts over the years.
Louie was a self-avowed “river rat” spending many years boating on the Mississippi River with his family. He also enjoyed traveling in their motorhome throughout the U.S.A. with his wife and daughter.
Louie made a Great River Honor Flight, participated in multiple Fishing For Freedom weekends (including this past June), and was honored to have served as grand marshal of 2023 Veteran’s Parade.
In addition to his wife, Louie was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Georgia, in childhood, and a brother, Lee, and his wife, Dorothy. In addition to his daughter, Louie is survived by sisters-in-law, Mary Agnes Czervinske of San Antonio, TX, Barbara (Jim) McCaughey of Davenport, IA, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in Duker & Haugh Funeral Home and a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Francis Catholic Church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors conducted by the American Legion Post #37 and the United States Navy Honor Detail. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. in Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the K of C T.V. Mass for Shut Ins, Great River Honor Flight, Fishing for Freedom, or Quincy Area Veteran’s Parade. Messages may be shared online at www.dukerandhaugh.com
Dear Demers family.
I first met Louis and his daughter at McDonald’s on sundays with my old buddy Jerry Schutte. He told me his wife had worked for the Illinois Bell and my mother did too, who is now 102.
Great stories and fond memories and kindness at 98 then.
May God have mercy on his soul and eternal rest.
Thank you.
Paul K. Geers
Pres. Latin mass Society of Quincy/ Historic St Rose of lima parish.
Sure gonna miss your calls and our chats on the phone. I’m so glad I took up swimming and met you. I was so happy to surprise you with a visit in April and give you a hug. It’s “so long for now”- till we see each other again. 💜
What an amazing, full life this gentleman lived. I hope my life story will be as interesting as his🩷
I’m sorry for the family’s loss……Rest in Peace Mr.Demers.🙏🏻
Mary,
My heart goes out to you with the passing of your father. I wish you comfort and strength in this time of grief. Rest in peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit and cherish all of your wonderful memories of your father.
Your cousin, Lisa
He was one of a kind. Always a smile on his face
Mary, my thoughts and prayers are for your comfort. God be with you!
Louis was a dynamic person and a wonderful friend!
I’ll be out of town for another friend’s funeral, so I won’t be able to attend Louis’s visitation or funeral.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Mary.
To the Demers family, please accept my Sincere Condolences on t passing of Louie. He was always a good friend and past customer of my family and our Buick Store. I had a nice chat with him last month at the Fishing For Freedom Banquet.
Mary,
I loved visiting with you and your dad several months ago. He was so much fun to talk to! Hugs!
Lynn Bonebrake Doellman
Prayers for you Mary. He was very kind man. May he rest in peace 🙏🏻
Mary, I am so sorry to learn about the passing of your father. I never knew him, but he must’ve been a wonderful man. May God and your memories comfort you through your sorrow. 🙏
My condolences. It was an honor to get to know Louie and work with him at the YMCA in Quincy. He encouraged me to join the Navy and I am very thankful for his guidance.
Mary, I am so sorry to hear of Louis’ passing. He was a kind soul and an inspiration to many. It was my honor to have met him and I was blessed to be able to interview and photograph him during Fishing for Freedom at Dralle Lake. R.I.P. Louis
Mary Alice-
So sorry to hear about your Dad’s passing. He was always a bright light when I would run into him and always made my day. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Rest easy, Louie. You will for sure be missed.
Mary, Condolences on the loss of your father. Praying for you and your extended family. God bless you all.
We will miss seeing him at the senior center but I hope he is playing music again with my great uncle Pete Veile
Louie, I will never forget your joy when I sang to you Happy Birthday in Polish at the Y before the pandemic. I enjoyed getting to know you (I did not know my own Grandfather from WWII) in the coffee room, and I admired you. We will all miss you. My condolences to the family, may his memory be a blessing.
Louie was a colorful and interesting man who had a very kind soul. Always enjoyed chatting with him. May he rest in the Peace of the Lord…
Mary, so saddened to hear of Louie’s passing. We had great fun working together on the Police Academy Alumni Asso. He was a special fiend to me. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary & entire family, Please know our thoughts & prayers are with you all at this sad time. Your father’s obituary I read out loud to Jeff & we were just floored over the many life experiences he had & continued to do things till the day he died. “Impressive!” You must have been so proud & I’m sure he was of you also. 🙏♥️🇺🇸 Jeff & Joanne (Powers) Bergman
Mary and family:
I am saddened by the passing of your father, Louie. His life was truly an impressive accomplishment!
As a child, growing up in such close proximity, I was in awe of the model (radio control) airplanes on display hanging from the ceiling in his garage….I was never aware of his expertise in aviation! His obituary was amazing!
It was an honor knowing such a treasure and I’m sorry for your loss.
Don Briddle
Mary, I am so sorry about your Dad’s passing. He was a great gentleman and a true patriot. I know you will miss him dearly🙏
Mary’, please accept my sympathy at the passing of your father. He led a long and very interesting life! We all had many good laughs at the senior center.