Funeral services for Louis Livingston, 88, of Omaha and formerly of the Glidden area will be Saturday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Glidden, with burial in the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery in Glidden, Iowa. Visitation will be held at the Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson Friday, Dec. 10 after 1 p.m., with family present from 6-8 p.m.
Louis Keith Livingston, son of Louis Edgar Livingston and Helen Avis Haselton, was born April 13, 1933, on the family farm in Carroll County, Iowa. He was the youngest of four children.
Louis attended a one-room schoolhouse, where he made fire every day in the winter. His father petitioned the town of Glidden for him to attend the public school in town in order to have a better education. Louis graduated from Glidden High School in 1951.
He met the love of his life, Joan Emmert, at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. The two were united in marriage on Aug. 3, 1958. The couple was blessed with two children Jeffrey and Linda.
Louis earned his degree in chemistry and applied that knowledge in the gas industry. He worked for Northern Natural Gas for a few years before spending the rest of his career with Metropolitan Utilities District, freezing and liquifying gas among other things.
Louis continued to drive to Iowa nearly weekly, up until his departure from earth, in order to stay in his home in town and chat with his local friends. He enjoyed watching the corn and soybeans grow as well as harvest time.
Louis followed the stock prices daily and enjoyed selling at the perfect moment.
Louis and Joan purchased a mobile home in California to allow Joan the opportunity and grant her wish of being an involved grandparent. Louis was truly a “snowbird” as he would come out from November to March or April to enjoy the warm weather and make memories with the grandkids. He picked them up from school every day and got them ice cream.
Louis and Joan’s last trip together was for Jeff and Maggie’s wedding in 2016 in Houston. The entire family rejoiced in the occasion, and wonderful memories were made.
Louis was with Joan when she passed away in the hospital in California. They were married for 59 years and set an example of what marriage was all about: Love, patience, forgiveness and being there for each other through thick and thin.
Louis endured so much but rarely if ever would ask for help.
He enjoyed the simple things in life, a good story, a long-distance drive to get the best caramels or fireworks, and he was a connoisseur of pickles, ice cream and caramel apples. Louis could pick out the best watermelon, musk melon, and tomato on any given day.
For enjoyment he would play the ponies, read the “Glidden Graphic” or walk along the boardwalk in Seal Beach when visiting in California.
Louis was preceded in death by his father, Louis; mother, Helen; brothers, Stewart and Allan; sister, Ruth; and wife. Joan.
He is survived by his son, Jeffrey, and daughter-in-law, Margaret Livingston; daughter, Linda, and son-in-law, Andre Gallardo; three grandchildren, Abigail, Daniel and Emma Gallardo; and his dear sister, Beverly Countryman.
Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson is in charge of arrangements.
