Louis E. Katona Jr.

Louis E. Katona, Jr., 79, of Bucyrus died Sunday evening, January 14, 2018 at Bucyrus Community Hospital after seven years of failing health.



He was born in Bucyrus on April 21, 1938 to the late Louis E. Katona, Sr. and Betty I. (Ferrall) Katona. He attended Bucyrus and Mt. Zion schools before enlisting in the Navy three weeks before his 17th birthday. He was based in Norfolk, Virginia and saw much of the world including the Arctic, Caribbean and Antarctic. He was honorably discharged in 1959 and returned to Bucyrus where he married Sharon J. Sauselen on October 29, 1960 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church by Rev. Pat Paetznick.



Louis was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He loved being with his family. During his and Sharon’s 57-year marriage, they raised two children, Louis E. Katona, III and Laina (Katona Rockwell) Lamb and enjoyed time with their four grandchildren, Alexander B. Rockwell of Marion, Chelsea (Rockwell) and husband Scott Parson of Ada, Louis E. Katona, IV and wife Kelsey of Crestline, and Kassidy (Katona) and husband Justin Olmstead of Montana, as well as three great grandchildren, Bryson, Addie, and Louis E. Katona, V.



Louis is also survived by sisters, Betty Courtney of Mansfield, Venessa and Phil Allegretto of Amherst, Debbie and Tim Boesel of N. Ridgeville, and Linda and Stewart Bice of Clintonville; brothers, Carl Kildow of Galion and Frederick Kildow of Bucyrus; many nieces and nephews; special brother-in-law, Ernest Walls of Bainbridge; special cousin, Johnny Sauselen of Georgia; and dear friends and neighbors, Tim, Janet, and Eli Shultz, Dennis and Debbie Staiger, and Les and Kathy Dyer.



In addition to his parents, Louis was preceded in death by uncle and aunt, Joseph and Rosie Katona; brother-in-law, James Courtney; sister, Francine Kildow; sister-in-law, Shirley (Sauselen Katona) Walls; and lifetime friends, Joe and Mary Boley.



During his life, Louis worked at General Motors, Swan Rubber, and United Telephone before starting his own business, X-Ring Custom Gun Shop. He also had his Ohio Real Estate License and worked with his wife at Katona Realty until illness forced his retirement.



Louis was a lifelong member of the NRA, Ohio Gun Collectors Association, and former Camp Michael board member. He attended the Bucyrus Nazarene Church where he became friends with Pastor Ray LaSalle over the past several years. He also loved hunting, watching, and feeding the wildlife around his home in the woods. He loved to garden and looked forward to late winter when the seed catalogs would come. He believed the Audrey Hepburn quote, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”



A celebration of Louis’ life will be held at Camp Michael in the late spring on a date to be announced. You can remember Louis with a donation payable to Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and given through Wise Funeral Service, 129 W Warren St, Bucyrus, Ohio 44820. Memories and photos can be shared on Louis’ Tribute Wall.