Louis Vath

L ouis V ath, age 89, of Sutherland, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, December 6, 2020.

Louis was born on November 17, 1931, in Ogallala to Roscoe and Julia Vath, the second of eight children. He attended Arthur County Country School from 1st to 8th grades then went to boarding school in Sidney to attend Catholic high school. Louis graduated from St. Patrick's Catholic School with the Class of '49.

On August 21, 1951, Louis was united in marriage to the love of his life, Mary Horn, at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Ogallala. They were married for nearly 65 years and had 9 children; Louis was so proud of them all.

Louis and Mary started their life together on a farm 7 ½ miles northwest of Keystone and he worked at the missile sites in Kimball for a short time. On May 19, 1961, the Vath family settled in Sutherland where Louis has lived ever since. He had worked on the I-80 project in Grand Island then went to work at the Sutherland Co-op (now Hi-Line Co-op) in 1962 until retiring in 1996.

Louis was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He liked to fish and hunt and play Bingo and cards as well as having coffee with the boys. Most of all, Louis loved his family. He was a compassionate and caring person who had a big loving heart, an infectious smile and gave heartfelt hugs, which will surely be missed.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary, and their children, Louis LeRoy, Michael 'Heavy' and Phyllis Brush; his parents, Roscoe and Julia; brothers, Anthony, Richard and Lesley; sister, Leona Clouatre; grandchildren, Robert 'Bobby' Vath, Jr. and Rebecca Vath; and brothers-in-law, Jack Schaeffer and Felix Clouatre.

Louis is survived by his children, Robert (Janet) Vath and Peggy (Kent) Lenz, of Sutherland, Rita (Dennis) Boyer and Becky Vath, of Loveland, CO, Mary Lou (Berdell) Beisner, of Paxton, and Nancy Vath (Bill), of Oberlin, KS; daughter-in-law, Connie Huehl, of Lincoln, KS; 16 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Louisa Schaeffer, of North Platte and Irene (Mike) Chilcott, of Ogallala; brother, Theodore Vath (special friend, Margaret), of Grand Junction; and many other family members.

Services will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sutherland. Rosary Service will be 7 p.m. Friday, December 11, and Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, December 12, with burial to follow in Riverview Cemetery. For those unable to attend, services will be recorded and posted to odeanchapel.com.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements, and at the church. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Sutherland Volunteer Fire Department, St. Jude Children's Hospital or Sacred Heart Catholic Church.