Louis Zwaga Obituary (1935 - 2014) - Bloomington, Illinois

Louis Zwaga, 79, of Normal and formerly of Kenosha, Wisconsin and The Villages, Florida, died at 6:34 p.m. Monday, August 25, 2014 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal. A private family service will be held in Wisconsin. Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, is assisting the family with cremation arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. He was born March 27, 1935 in Friens, Netherlands, the son of Ulbe and Hesseltje Veldhuis Zwaga. He married Erika Preiss on September 14, 1960 in Waukegan. She preceded him in death on November 27, 2011. Surviving are three children, Dorothy Simonsen of Racine, WI, Lou (Jamie) Zwaga of Normal, Illinois and Debbie (Jeffrey) Medin of Toronto, Canada; five grandchildren, Crystal Poeschel, Zach Zwaga, Jeremy (Stephanie) Zwaga, Brandon Zwaga and Josiah Medin; and three great-grandchildren. The youngest of thirteen children, Louis emigrated alone to the United States when he was seventeen. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954-58 and retired from the American Motors Corporation after 30 years of employment. He enjoyed Sprint car racing, gardening, travel, being a hobbyist golfer and spending time with his grandchildren.