Louis Albert Thierwechter

Louis Albert Thierwechter went to be with his Lord on January 27, 2023. He passed away at Spectrum Manistee Hospital with his wife of 59 years, 8 months at his side. Lou was born on July 24th, 1939 in Bay Shore, New York to Louis and Margaret Thierwechter.

He grew up in a musical household and taught himself to play piano. Growing up near the ocean gave him a lifelong love of water. Lou spent his teen years harvesting clams in the Great South Bay. He graduated from Islip High School in 1957. After commuting from Islip to N.Y.C. for five years, he moved closer to the city. That's where he met a gal from Manistee. On May 25th of 1963, Lou married his beloved wife Barbara (Korzeniewski). They settled in their house in Islip and raised two sons; John and David. He was a great father to his sons, supporting them in all their interests. He was also a Big Brother to Jacob.

In 1973, the family moved to Niles, Michigan where Lou finished his college education. He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Business Administration.

After accomplishing that milestone, he took up flying lessons, got his private pilot's license and landed his next job managing the airport in Allegan, MI. His first winter running the airport was the blizzard of 1978. He went on to get his instrument, multi engine and float plane ratings. But the love of his flying was his J-3 Cub. He enjoyed going to “fly-in breakfasts,” taking passengers to the annual Oshkosh Wisconsin event and a fall trip to Beaver Island. He eventually accumulated over 5,000 flying hours. He was fortunate to get to ride in the right seat next to Eugene Cernan (the last man to walk on the moon) when Cernan was taking a trip out east in his 421 aircraft.  He treasured the two pictures Cernan sent him: one of his night blast to the moon and the second one of him walking on the moon. Besides running the airport and doing charters, (people and freight) he sold many planes. His love for travel led him and Barb to tour the country in a Barth motorhome visiting friends, family and Barth motorhome friends.

Also, during those years, he became a Rotarian, Emceed the “Good Times at the Gazebo,” organized several huge fundraisers; the Allegan Regent Theater and Allegan General Hospital window replacement project. He was a County Commissioner for 8 years, provided the sound system for the Veteran's and Memorial Day ceremonies, sang “Volari” in Allegan's Cabaret and enjoyed theater, landing a main role in two productions.

He and Barb lived in Allegan for over forty years. In 2019, they moved to Manistee Michigan, where Lou could again be near water. They enjoyed playing games, going to the movies, and watching the ships sailing through the channel. He loved feeding the birds; his favorites were cardinals. He had also loved his Golden Retrievers; Sparkle and Sunny.

Playing the piano was his God given talent and he used it to the fullest. If there was a piano, he would sit down and play it. He provided music before church services at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manistee and entertained many people at Senior facilities. He considered everyone he met to be a good friend and always saw the glass as half full. He loved the sun and spent as much time as possible taking in the rays. Arranging flowers was also one of his hobbies. He would go out and pick whatever he saw and make a beautiful bouquet. He wrote, “Even God’s weeds and wildflowers, frail as they sometimes are, can provide our world with beauty; if only for the moment.” Barb always said right after she met him there was never a dull moment. His famous saying was “Live life...Long time dead.”

Lou was a devout Lutheran all his life and never missed worshiping on Sunday wherever he was. He gave his time and musical talent to his church, Immanuel Lutheran in Allegan and when he attended Trinity Lutheran in Paw Paw, MI he served as Chairman of the Congregation and also assisted in other activities for both the church and school. He also spent many Saturdays with the breakfast bible study group. Whenever he encountered a church project or challenge his goal was to "Make it Happen."  His most recent musical contribution was playing his Christmas songs for the Trinity Ladies Society in Manistee.

In the middle of all his involvements, Barb knew she could always depend on his complete support of her many interests and projects. She will miss his piano music but she knows he's now playing for His Lord.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, his son, John, brother Bob (Jackie), cousins, Terry (Van) DaSalva, JoAnnTurner, Carol Seltenright, Tom Scriemo, nieces and nephews Lyn (Chip) Fontinell, Bob (Dorothy) Thierwechter, Jim (Phyllis) Pettit, Stacey (Vinny) Soviero, brother and sister-in-law Dan (Donna), Korzeniewski, sister-in-law Lois (Pat) Flaig, sister-in-law Joan Howard plus many other cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Louis, son David, sister, Susie (Wes) Pettit and cousins, Louis Jahrling, Nancy Scriemo, Janet (Gary) Gottlieb, father and mother-in-law Steve and Anna Korzeniewski, brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Gerald (Joyce) Korzeniewski and Richard Howard.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manistee, Michigan at 1:00 PM with Reverend Dennis Rahn officiating. The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday, one hour prior to the funeral service with a luncheon to follow at the church.

A funeral service will also be held on Friday, February 3, 2023 at the Gorden Funeral Residence Allegan Chapel at 528 Trowbridge Street, Allegan, Michigan 49010, at 1:00 PM with Reverend Daniel B. Ward officiating with burial to follow at the Millgrove Cemetery in Valley Township, Michigan. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, two hours prior to the funeral service, with a luncheon to follow the burial, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Trinity Lutheran Endowment Fund, 420 Oak Street, Manistee, MI 49660 or Special Olympics Michigan, P.O. Box 795, Mount Pleasant, MI 48804-0795.

The family would truly appreciate a card with a special memory. 

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of local funeral arrangements.

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