Louis William Koonz, 82, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2011, in Duxbury, Vermont, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his wife, Stephanie, and his three children, Karen, Linda and Dennis. He was born April 30, 1928, at home in the Bingville section of Greenfield, Massachusetts. Louie was the second son of Harry S. and Catherine (Edes) Koonz. The third of six children, he was predeceased by his sisters, Elinor Ristuccia and her husband Ben, and Phloise Collins and her husband Don: he was predeceased by his brother, Earl, who died at sea during WWII; a nephew, Stephen Hill; his sister-in-law, Lois Koonz; as well as his first wife, Virginia, who is the mother of his children.
Louis is survived by two daughters, Karen and her husband Mark Fitzpatrick of Bernardston, Massachusetts, and Linda and her partner Hubbard Jackson of Greenfield, Massachusetts; his son, Dennis and his wife Kathy of Orange, Massachusetts.
Louis also leaves his sister, Rae and her husband Russell Hill of Charlotte, NC; and his brother, Harry Koonz of Burlington, Vermont. He leaves his grandsons, Matthew Fitzpatrick and wife Kai-Hua (and soon-to-be-born great-grandson Drake) of San Francisco, California, Justin Fitzpatrick and great-grandson Kade of Newfane, Vermont, Sean Fitzpatrick and his partner Casey of Pensacola, Florida, Robert Koonz and partner Tori of Northampton, Massachusetts, and Steven Koonz of Orange, Massachusetts. He also leaves a granddaughter, Chelsea Koonz, living in the Dominican Republic serving in the Peace Corps.
Nieces and nephews include John, Bernard, Michael, Joel, Matthew and Danny Ristuccia; Susan Hill Nicholson; Russell, Timothy, Thomas and Stacy Hill; Don Collins, Cathy Collins and Barbara Serafino; Denise, Theresa, Glen, Kurt Koonz and families. He also leaves grand nieces and nephews and a great-grand niece and nephew.
Louis graduated from Greenfield High School in 1947 and then joined the Air Force where he was stationed in Yuma, Arizona, and Amarillo, Texas. After serving in the Air Force as a jet mechanic, Louis became a licensed plumber and spent the next years working for Mackin Fuel, Doran, Inc. and Lamorie Plumbing and Heating Company, all in Greenfield and at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Louis’ volunteer efforts centered on the Little League in Northfield and the Northfield Lions Club where he was third vice president. Louis was the first Democratic Party candidate to ever win an elected position in the Town of Northfield, Massachusetts. He served as sewer commissioner for three years.
In August of 1988, Louis married the former Stephanie (Gale) Lawson. He retired from the plumbing profession at the University of Massachusetts in 1990 and together they moved to Ward Hill in Duxbury, Vermont, in 1993. For the next 15 years, Louis tended a large vegetable garden and helped to grow champion sunflowers. Together, Louis and Stephanie canned the vegetables, tapped the trees and sugared off their land. They worked diligently and creatively with stained glass, often using Louis’ original patterns for lampshades and window hangings. Even though not an elected position, he was lovingly known as the “Mayor of South Duxbury.”
Although a recovering alcoholic (20 years), he dabbled in the fine art of beer making and achieved acclaim for his liqueurs and his Louie Kalouie -- without ever tasting a drop.
Louis will be remembered for his extraordinarily strong will to live, his gentle teaching style, his extensive practical knowledge, his sense of reason and his sense of humor. Able to talk on many fronts, he delighted in charming the ladies, chiding, one-upping and challenging the gents and championing the preciousness of every little child. He will be remembered as someone who included everyone in his life. He has kept in his heart the many friendships of schoolmates he had growing up, his Air Force buddies, his neighbors in Northfield, Massachusetts, especially Charlie and Dorena Johnson and his fellow employees at U/Mass Amherst.
Part of his legacy are the pictures he took of Camel’s Hump Mountain -- the exquisite view from his back porch and yard -- producing gift cards, wall hangings, slide shows and stained-glass windows.
His daily life was complimented by the beauty of the seasons and the peacefulness of his surroundings. For 14 years “Brodie” the dog would accompany Louis on daily walks up and down the dirt road by the house.
Through marriage, he also leaves Deborah Miller and her husband Ken and son Aaron of Bar Harbor, Maine, Bradford Lawson and his partner Brenda of Pearl River, Louisiana, and his daughters, Chelsea and Samantha, Heidi Sheldon and her husband Doug and their children Madi, Takodah, Akilena and Ali of Anchorage, Alaska.
Louis William Koonz -- rest his gentle soul and let his spirit fly freely in the mountains. A quote from Dr. Seuss – “Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it [Louis’ life] happened.”
A graveside celebration of Louis’ life with military honors will be held from the South Duxbury Cemetery (next to Harwood Union High School) at 11 a.m. on April 30, 2011. A reception to continue this celebration will be held at 2096 Ward Hill, South Duxbury, Vermont, immediately following the service. Instead of flowers memorial gifts would be appreciated to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 (www.cvhhh.org). To send online condolences please us visit www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook. The Perkins-parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting with arrangements.
