This appears to be an appropriate thread to share my friend Lou’s actual obituary as it was in our local newspaper. Lou was a retired professor at Bucknell University and had quite a sense of humor. Having had a tracheotomy from all his years of smoking, he went down hill fast. I saw him a few hours before he died, as he walked away from the counter in my store. He was unable to communicate, he walked away ten steps, turned, smiled and held his hands up as he shrugged his shoulders in a gesture of “I give up” and went home and died. But not before writing his own obituary. Here it is..exactly as it was published (it was also read by Click & Clack on Car Talk) His antagonistic sense of humor is obvious, even when facing death.
LEWISBURG - Louis J. Casimir Jr. bought the farm Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, having lived more than twice as long as he had expected and probably three or four times as long as he deserved.
Although he was born into an impecunious family, in a backward and benighted part of the country at the beginning of the Great Depression, he never in his life suffered any real hardships.
Many of his childhood friends who weren’t killed or maimed in various wars became petty criminals, prostitutes, and/or Republicans.
He survived three years overseas in an infantry regiment in excellent health, then university for four years on the GI bill, and never thereafter had to do an honest day’s work.
He was loved by good women, had loyal friends, and all his children were healthy, handsome and bright.
For more than six decades, he smoked, drank and ate lots of animal fat, but never had a serious illness or injury.
His last wish was that everyone could be as lucky as he had been, even through his demise was probably iatrogenic.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Judy.
He is survived by his brother Jack of Houston, Texas; and his children, Randall Kent of Brunswick, Ga., Louis John III (Trey) of Lewisburg, Thomas Bettis of Lewisburg and Edith Austin Wheat of Austin, Texas.
Lou was a daredevil: his last words were “Watch this!”
A memorial service and barbecue will be held on Labor Day at Lou’s place.
Donations may be made in Lou’s memory to the Union County Public Library, 205 Reitz Blvd., Lewisburg, PA 17837.
Funeral arrangements were by Shaw Funeral Home, Milton.
Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the family.
Thanks for making me smile!
Had to look up “iatrogenic”. (Love language and enjoy learning new words)
He was a heavy smoker with a trach and thought his demise was iatrogenic? Must be from near a river in Egypt called denial.