Lewis (Lou/Louie) Lenwood Ingram, Jr., age 90, of Osceola, Wisconsin passed away on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
Louie was born to Lewis L. Ingram, Sr. and Mary A. (Horn) Ingram on Sept. 14, 1934. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson Memorial High School in Staunton, Virginia in 1952. Louie was very proud to share with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that he was the first Ingram to graduate from high school. On Sept. 20, 1958, Louie married the love of his life and was blessed with three children, Terry, Jody and Scott (aka Hard Rock).
Louie proudly served our country for 21 years as a TSGT in the United States Air Force. Louie enlisted in 1953 in the USAF. He attended 16 weeks of basic training at Sampson Air Force Base in New York. In 1953, Louie transferred to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. After a short stay there, Louie transferred to Tripoli, Libya, in North Africa. While stationed there, he joined the basketball and fastpitch softball team. Louie was a teammate on the 1954 Wheelus Air Force Base Basketball Championship team. Although he pitched baseball in high school, Louie got his first experience pitching fastpitch softball while stationed in North Africa.
In March 1955, Louie was transferred to Osceola Air Force Base, located southeast of Osceola, Wisconsin (East Farmington). In 1959, Louie and his family were transferred to Truax Air Force Base in Madison, Wisconsin. There he was named Airman of the Month in 1961. Louie did a short tour in Goosebay, Labrador, then came back to Madison and was transferred to Grand Forks, North Dakota. In 1963, they were transferred back to Osceola Air Force Base. In 1968, Louie transferred to Calumet Air Force Base in Calumet, Michigan, along with his family. In 1971, they were transferred to Homestead Air Force Base in Homestead, Florida. After 21 years, 2 months and 15 days, on June 1, 1974, Louie retired from the United States Air Force and returned to Osceola, Wisconsin with his family.
Through his 21 years of service, Louie was active on every fastpitch softball team where he was stationed and was well known as one of the best athletes, pitchers and a fantastic person. Louie was named MVP in 1970 while in Michigan, was noted for pitching a perfect game while stationed in Homestead, and given the name Iron Man. Another proud moment was in 1965, his Osceola fastpitch team won the 30th Air Division Radar Squadron Worldwide Tournament Championship, in which he was named to the all-star team. Louie’s softball career continued after retiring from the Air Force where he later joined and played at many tournaments, with local Osceola teams including Cascade Bar and PY’s Bar. Louie continued adding awards to his collection including a Mr. Good Chatter for his outstanding sportsmanship and being a great competitor.
In 1974, Louie was hired through Osceola School District as a custodian, where he worked for 16 years before retiring (again). Louie didn’t stop there, in the fall of 1990, Krooked Kreek Golf Course was established giving Louie and his wife, Yvonne another 26 years of staying busy cutting grass, tending to the grounds and other various tasks. Louie also mowed many lawns in the Osceola community and was caretaker, with Yvonne, at Third Avenue Apartments. 2016 was the year Louie FINALLY retired. If you do the math, from when Louie enlisted into the Air Force to the day he retired, it tallies 63 years of hard work, making friends and touching many people with his positive spirit, contagious smile, and never-ending jokes. Louie & Yvonne were Grand Marshalls for the 2009 Annual Wheels and Wings Celebration in Osceola. He was also a member of the Osceola American Legion Post 221, a member of the Osceola Historical Society, and was an Osceola Inaugural Hall of Fame Inductee in 2023
In addition to softball, in his earlier years, he enjoyed golfing, bowling, and his morning coffee conversations with the guys. It especially warmed his heart when he was able to spend time making special memories, with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Louie is survived by children, Terry (Debbie) Ingram and Jody (Bobby) Erlitz; five grandchildren, Kristi (Daren) Cherney, Melissa (Andrew) Blades, Brody (Paige) Erlitz, Tyler Ingram and Joanna Ingram; along with 10 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Don (Andrea) Rud; and brother-in-law Ed Gear.
Louie was preceded in death by the love of his life, Yvonne; his son, Scott (Hard Rock); brother, Pete Ingram; sister, Lucy Graybill; brothers-in-law, John Rud and John Graybill; sisters-in-law, Barb Rud, JoAnne Ingram and Joan Gear; father-in-law, Paul Rud; mother-in-law, Ethel Rud; nephews, Justin Rud and Ken Silvey; great-nephew, Weston Rud; and parents, Lewis and Mary Ingram.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23, at Zion Lutheran Church, East Farmington, Wisconsin. A visitation will be held from 4 – 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22, at Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be held in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Osceola. Arrangements are with the Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola. Condolences may be expressed online at grandstrandfh.com.
