Louis “Lou” Anthony Napolitan of Page, Arizona, passed away after a long fight with Alzheimer’s disease on Aug. 28, 2020. Lou was born in Stamford, Connecticut, on April 25, 1933 and was raised in Washington, Pennsylvania, by John and Julienne Napolitan with younger brother John “Pat” Nestor Napolitan and sister Carol Napolitan Haffke.
Lou joined the U.S. Army in 1951 and was honorably discharged in 1953, serving most of his military career in Korea. He spent the next several years working in a glass factory, coal mining with his father, and working several odd jobs to help out where he could.
He moved to Denver, Colorado, in the early ‘60s and took a job with Burlington Northern Railroad working as a mechanic “car knocker.” He married his first wife Maria Panfil Ojeda. Maria passed in 1974 and left Lou with five loving stepchildren (Teresa Ojeda, Lauro Kinney, Dalia (Alfredo) Estrada, Armando (Noelia) Ojeda, and Isolia Hernandez) and one of their own, Tony (Anita) Napolitan.
Lou met Ruth Ellen Oswald in 1974 and moved to Page in September of 1975 after accepting a job with the Navajo Generating Station as a railroad mechanic. Lou married Ruth on Oct. 7, 1978 and adopted his seventh child, Travis (Belinda) Napolitan. Lou and Ruth had four more children, Vicki (Carl) Allen, John (Leslie) Napolitan, Patrick (Amanda) Napolitan, and Philip (Lesa) Napolitan.
Lou lived life to its fullest and left nothing on the table. He led an active lifestyle enjoying walking, working on vehicles, cutting firewood, hunting, fishing, and sharing stories about all of the above. Lou enjoyed sharing his experiences with his family and friends and would often lend a helping hand even to complete strangers. Lou was a true example of selflessness and kindness to all who knew him.
Lou is survived by his wife, 11 children, 33 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his first wife, parents, and his siblings.
The family would like to thank friends of the family, Joann Mann for her love and care, Michelle Smith (Zion’s Way Home Health and Hospice), and all of the doctors, nurses, and staff at Page Hospital, at Dixie Regional Medical Center, and at Wentworth at the Meadows.
A memorial service will be held with limited capacity at the Page Elks Lodge on Sept. 6, 2020 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Arizona Mule Deer Organization. Contact John Napolitan at john@azmuledeer.org or the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org).
