Louis Bau Mansuetti, 97, of Sterling, passed away Dec. 20, 2009, in Sterling. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, with the Rev. Robert L. Wedow officiating. Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery.

Louis was born Dec. 9, 1912, in Centerville, Iowa, to Antonio and Domenica Bau Mansuetti. Louis moved to Sterling with his family in February 1923. They worked in the beet fields in Iliff and Padroni area. They got a farm in Padroni. They endured the hardship of the 1933-35 drought and dust storms.
Louis was baptized into the Catholic faith and he lived that faith by helping others any time he could.

Louis married Louis Bau Mansuetti Dorothy Greenamyer on April 7, 1939, in Julesburg. They were married 64 years. Dorothy passed away in 2003.

They had eight children: two boys, one passed away at birth; and six daughters. In January 1942, Louis and his brother, Tony, went to Vallejo, Calif., to work at Mare Island shipyard. Louis was joined by his family. Louis and family returned to Sterling in 1943. Louis drove a truck for Welch Elevator, then Laurence Ramey. Louis bought his first truck in 1948. He drove for himself until 1977, then worked at Riverside Cemetery for five years. After that, he helped take care of his grandson, Aaron Ward.

He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Louis enjoyed playing cards. His greatest pride in life was his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Louis is survived by son, Charles Mansuetti and wife Irene of Sterling and their children, Mark and wife Lisa of Golden, Tara Deard and husband David of Arvada and Lisa Schmunk and husband Scott of Colorado Springs; daughter, Joan Mahaffey and husband Clayton of Sterling and their children, Sue Whited and husband David of Sterling, Louis and wife Graviela of Platteville, Katherine of Evanston, Barbara Carlsen of Satelite Beach, Fla., James Mahaffey of Sterling and Patrick Mahaffey and wife Amy of Sterling; daughter, Ellen Luckey of Sterling and her children, Justin of Sterling, Michelle Luckey and Kimberly Michieli and husband Martin of Loveland; daughter, Sandra Genereux of Cheyenne and her sons, Jonathan of Las Vegas, Brian and wife Jennifer of Santa Clara, Calif., Richard and Thomas and wife Terri of Sterling; daughter, Diana Ward of Sterling; grandchildren, Tony Goff and wife Sherrie of McCook, Neb., Fred Goff and wife Quanett of Richmond, Va., and Tina Kohl of Sterling; sisters, Anna Fricke of Denver and Mary Mansuetti of Denver; 19 great-grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Mansuetti; parents; daughters, Pamela Shaffer and Lana Kohl; brothers, George and Tony Mansuetti; sisters, Linda Facchinello and Edith Wall; sons-in-law, Thomas Luckey and Charles Genereux; granddaughter, Jewell Ann Goff; and grandson, Aaron Ward.

Memorials may be made to the Louis B. Mansuetti Memorial Fund.