Joseph "Joe" L. Louks
March 13, 1939 — June 5, 2013
Joseph L. Louks, age 74, passed away Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at Parkview North Hospital, Fort Wayne, following a brave battle with leukemia. He served for 28 years as an international representative and labor arbitration specialist with the IUE-AFL-CIO District 8 before his retirement in 1997. He had previously been employed at Westinghouse (serving 3 terms as president of IUE Local 917) and at the Marsh warehouse in Muncie. He was a charter member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Portland. He also belonged to the IUE Local 917 Retirees Association; the Westinghouse/ABB Sympathy Club; the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors; the Jay County Historical Society; the National WWII Museum (charter member); and Gideons International.
Joe was born on March 13, 1939, in Randolph County, the son of Charlton A. and Melva I. (Myers) Louks. He graduated from Portland High School in 1959. He was married on January 30, 1960, to Betty J. (Sewell) Louks, who preceded him in death. He was known as a long-time Sunday school teacher, an avid collector and restorer of antique clocks, and a rebuilder of wrecked cars for friends and family following his retirement. He was also co-owner with his wife, Betty, of the Flower Hut in Portland for 28 years.
Survivors include three daughters, Beth Landfair (husband Phil), Troy, Ohio, Jo Thomas (husband Randy), Pennville, Indiana, and Janelle Carpenter (husband Scott), Fort Wayne, Indiana; two brothers, John Louks (wife Gail), Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Ron Louks (wife Renny), Fishers, Indiana; four sisters, Lola Gadbury, Dunkirk, Indiana, Mary Van Deusen, Bedford, Texas, Kathy Nelson, Dunkirk, Indiana, and Linda Mettler (husband Stan), Mooreland, Indiana; eight grandchildren, Rhandi Thomas, Portland, Indiana, Nat Thomas (wife Patty), Dunkirk, Indiana, Ian Thomas (wife Amanda) and Mitchell Thomas, Indianapolis, Indiana, Emily and Erin Carpenter, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Sarah and Bekah Landfair, Troy, Ohio; and three great-grandchildren, Madison and Gavin Thomas and Quentin Wilson, all of Portland, Indiana.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Wednesday at the Fellowship Baptist Church, 286 S. 200 W., Portland, Indiana. Pastor Hugh Kelly and Rev. Greg Hazley will officiate the services, and burial will follow in the Green Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 3-8 PM Tuesday at the Fellowship Baptist Church.
The family requests memorials be directed to the Jay County Cancer Society or the Gideons International.
Arrangements are being handled by the Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home in Portland.