Louis Thurman Watson 1919-2012

WATSON HUBERT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/28/2012 at 21:06:13

Sioux City Journal
8 December 2012

L.T. "Gus" Watson, 93, of Sloan died peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, Iowa, with family by his side.

Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix, Iowa, with the Rev. Patrick O'Kane and Monsignor Mark Duchaine co-celebrating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Salix. Visitation with the family present will be 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with a vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service in Sergeant Bluff.

Louis Thurman Watson was born April 28, 1919, in Whiting, the son of Paul and Dora Watson. His mother died when he was 4 years old, and he was raised by his maternal grandparents. Gus graduated in 1937 from the Sloan High School.

On June 8, 1939, Gus was united in marriage to Lorraine Hubert in Sioux City. They lived for two years in Ottumwa, Iowa, while he was serving in the Navy during World War II. They returned to Sloan where he personally made the blocks and built the building that he and Lorraine called Watson Locker Service. Gus was a true American entrepreneur, who built his business from the ground up. They retired in the late 1970s.

Gus and Lorraine were married for more than 71 years, and their devotion toward the other was the foundation of their lasting love.

Gus was a civic-minded citizen and a pillar of the community who consistently supported numerous school and community organizations through volunteer activity. He was involved in the life of Sloan. Gus was a volunteer on the Sloan Fire Department and an EMT. He served on the Sloan City Council, Sloan Library Board, church board and Sloan Community Development Board. He enjoyed being a flagman on Sunday evenings at Onawa (Iowa) Racetrack during the late 1950s and 1960s. He was a life member of Smith-Rhodes American Legion Post 295 and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix.

He is survived by his two sons, Steve (Beverly) Watson of Boston, Mass., and Rick Watson of Sloan; two daughters, Karla (Kris) Maynard of Fishers, Ind., and Carol (Dr. Garry) Clark of Sergeant Bluff; eight grandchildren, Amy (Tony) Derrick, Jason (Kelly) Claus, Joshua (Terri) Maynard, Jill (Adam) VanderSchaaf, Paul Watson, Neil (Shelly) Maynard, Rajean (Eli) Chastain and Andrea Matney; nine great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and two brothers-in-law, Albert (Kathy) Hubert of North Sioux City and Kermit Lee of Sloan.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine; two brothers, Gail Watson and Bill Watson; one sister, Mary Noble; two daughters-in-law and one granddaughter.

Memorials may be made in his memory to Smith-Rhodes American Legion Post 295 or Sloan Public Library.