LOUIS E. BEY

Louis was born Aug. 6, 1925, to the late Edward and Bertha (Bartz) Bey in Sanborn Township. He was a lifelong resident of the area. Mr. Bey married the former Laura (Cole) Kurkerewicz on December 14, 1946, by the Rev. Father Sigmund Haremski at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alpena. Mr. Bey proudly served his country in the United States Army in the 4th Infantry Division as a combat infantryman and intelligence observer from 1943 to 1945 in Normandy, Northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany Campaigns. He was wounded in action in Nov – 1944 in Germany. While in the service he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and 3 Bronze Battle Stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal and World War II Victory Medal. He was also awarded a special diploma from the French government for helping liberate Normandy and all of France.

Returning from the war, he worked for Lloyd R. Leavitt Pontiac-Cadillac-GMC as a mechanic and service manager. Mr. Bey was a certified master mechanic from 1957 to 1988 and worked for McCoy Pontiac-Cadillac-Buick-GMC as service manager from where he retired.

Louis was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church, its Mens Club, Ushers Club, and a greeter. He was a charter and life member of the DAV Chapter 61, and a life member of Spruce VFW Post 6754, member of Michigan Farm Bureau, and AARP. Mr. Bey enjoyed farming and spending time at the back forty hunting and planting trees. Also, fishing, doing most of his fishing in the U.P. at Cedarville and Drummond Island.

Surviving are his wife, Laura to whom he was married for 76 years; daughter, Sandra Light; daughter-in-law, Barbara Bey; three grandchildren, Rebecca Bey, Thomas (Kristin) Light II, Christine (Bob) Roulo; two great-grandchildren, Kayla (James) Richmond and Joshua (Delisa) Roulo; three great-great-grandsons; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Bey was preceded in death by his son, Edward Bey in 2019; brother, Arthur; three sisters, Lillian Domke, Helen Kihn, Ruth Dalhke, and Emma Mead.

Friends may call at the Bannan Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, from 2-6 p.m. with military honors accorded him by Alpena VFW Post 2496 at 5 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue Wednesday at St. Catherine Catholic Church from 10 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with the Rev. John William officiating.

Interment: St. Catherine Cemetery

Memorials: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Sunrise Mission