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 Red Lake Falls - Louis Stich, 40, beloved son, brother, uncle, friend to all, and gentle servant was received into Christ’s loving arms on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, the feast day of blessed John Paul II.
Funeral mass was held Friday, Oct. 28 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Interment was held at St. Dorothy’s Catholic Cemetery, in Dorothy, following the funeral.
Louie was born on May 13th, 1971 (the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima) at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif., to Pete and Kathy (Schue) Stich. Born almost two months premature, he weighed 1 pound, 13 ounces and was not expected to live. This gift and miracle from God, named after his grandfather and father, had Christ’s servant heart throughout his lifetime, and it was the heart of a lion, always putting others before himself, touching everyone he came into contact with.
Louie was baptized at Saint Joachim Catholic Church in Hayward, Calif., with his Godparents Ed and Rita Stich present. He spent time as a baby and toddler in California and Londonderry, Northern Ireland while his father served in the Navy before returning to Minnesota, growing up on the family farm and in Dorothy, near Red Lake Falls. Louie received first Holy Communion and first Reconciliation at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. He was confirmed at St. Dorothy’s Catholic Church with many family and friends present.
Louie attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School and Lafayette High School in Red Lake Falls, graduating in 1989. He went on to graduate with honors from the University of North Dakota in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in teaching. While there, he was an active member of St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, enjoyed karate, and being a member of the UND marching band.
After school, while residing in Red Lake Falls, he was an avid reader, was active in the Knights of Columbus, and more recently spent time most every week before the Blessed Sacrament praying for others.
Louie had previously managed the Red Lake Falls public swimming pool and then taught and was an administrator in the Red Lake Falls public school system for a number of years. He also taught Driver’s Education and scores of students in behind the wheel training in Red Lake Falls and Crookston.
One of Louie’s passions was teaching youth, especially in passing on his faith to his confirmation classes. He cared deeply about his students.
Another passion was working on the ambulance crew. When he was a kid, he used to ride his bike and make crazy siren noises with his fireman hat on. This love carried him to volunteer, manage, and train the Red Lake Falls Ambulance Service. This “hobby” led him to return to school at East Grand Forks Technical College to obtain his paramedic certification. He was a Minnesota State and Nationally certified EMT and EMTP (Paramedic).
Louie was currently employed as a medic at Seven Clans Casino, near Thief River Falls. He loved and enjoyed the people he worked with. He was also a member of the Crookston and Thief River Falls Ambulance Services at different times. When he found time, he enjoyed teaching EMT courses at East Grand Forks Technical College and loved the challenge of organizing Regional Mass Casualty Training sessions as well as Safety Camps for the elementary school children.
He was an alternate Greater Northwest EMS Board Member.
Louie’s greatest love was for his family, spending all of his limited free time with them. This was especially true with his nieces and nephews with whom he had such a special bond, they were the light of his life.
Louie absolutely adored his parents, and from the time he was a kid, he also loved hanging out with his grandparents. He was an inspiration to his brothers and made them want to strive to be better men like him. He also enjoyed his uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Louie’s life was spent teaching, training, and serving. We can learn from his example. He always walked with God and put others before himself, carrying his own crosses and sufferings quietly, while putting other’s needs before his own. He was a very humble man, never talking about himself or speaking poorly about anyone. He stuck up for those who were being mistreated. He always offered help, a kind word of encouragement and a smile, and was genuinely concerned for others. Louie didn’t always talk about his faith, but he always lived it. He modeled Christ for others by living the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31) and touched many lives. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and community.
Louie is survived by his parents Pete and Kathy Stich, brothers Chris, his twin (Sherrey) of Fargo, N.D., and Joel (Amy) of St. Paul; nephews Jacob, Kyle, and Jackson, and nieces Sara, Katelyn, and Isabella; and grandmother Vi Schue.
Louie was preceded in death by his grandparents, Paul and Rose Stich and Louis Schue, all of Red Lake Falls.
In lieu of flowers, Louie’s family requests that memorial donations be sent to the Red Lake Falls Volunteer Ambulance Service.
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