GLENFIELD - Retired dairy farmer, Louis E. Gorczyca, Sr., 90, passed away on Monday, May 07, 2012 from complications related to heart attack on Lou Jr's farm.

The incident occurred during daily visit to the woods where he enjoyed cutting firewood. He was also a WWII veteran and lifetime resident of Lewis County. He was in robust good health until the accident, lived independently, enjoyed the outdoors and his many hobbies, and visiting with family.

Louis was born on the Tug Hill (Martinsburg) on November 26, 1921, the 7th of 13 children and son of the late Bert and Sophia Dziekowski Gorczyca. He enlisted in the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Merchant Marine and later served on the USS Guam during WWII.

While farming, he served the community in a number of ways. Mr. Gorczyca was elected Town of Martinsburg Supervisor in the mid - 60's and is pictured in G. Byron Bowen's "History of Lewis County New York 1880-1965" in a photo labeled "1966 Board of Supervisors". Louis served on the Selective Service System ("draft board") for 25 years encompassing the Vietnam era. He was a member of the Lewis County General Hospital Board of Trustees. This led him to convince his wife, Genevieve, to return to work as a Registered Nurse after a 15 year absence and birthing seven children! (She later had an eighth!)

Louis was a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Glenfield, a member of the Lowville American Legion Post #162 and Lewis County Memorial Post #6912. Possibly one of Louis's proudest achievements is his service with the Lewis County Fair where he served as Treasurer and later as President. He also volunteered at the Information Booth well into his 80's He was thrilled to be honored as "President Emeritus" of the Fair.

He married Genevieve F. McCarthy, a Lowville native, on December 28, 1946 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Glenfield. Together the couple owned and operated a dairy farm on the Glendale Road in the town of Martinsburg, which is currently owned by his son, Louis Jr. and wife Connie. Louis' wife, Genevieve died in 1991. Louis reunited in the 80's and 90's with his former Navy buddies from the USS Guam and enjoyed participating in several reunions he attended annually at different cities around the US. Several of his children joined him at the Washington D.C. trip which included a visit to the new WWII monument. Louis was a volunteer fireman for 30 years and worked at the annual Martinsburg Firemen Field Days Clam Stand a number of times. Louis also produced maple syrup at his farm for at least 50 years until the age of 80. Thereafter, he enjoyed assisting his nephew, Jerry Gorczyca of Glenfield, with "finishing off" the syrup at his sugar shanty annually.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Lowville with Rev. Christopher Carrara officiating. Committal and military service will follow in the Old Glendale Cemetery.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Sundquist Funeral Home on Friday 5-8 p.m.

Louis is survived by his eight children: Virginia and Mark West of San Diego, CA; Janet Kozlowski also of San Diego; Louis E. and Connie of Glenfield; Stephen N. and Cynthia of Choctaw, OK; Thomas and Joanne of Schenectady, NY; Gregory and Flora of Jacksonville, FL; William P. and Roxanne of N. Stonington, CT and John Gorczyca of Fort Lauderdale, FL.; his brothers: John and Bert Gorczyca of Prescott AZ; 16 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Five brothers: Edward, Leonard, Walter, Chester and Joseph and five sisters: May Badura, Regina Greene, Stella Golic, Blanche O'Grady and Mildred Schrembeck died before him.