YODER – A public Wake Service for Louis A. “Lou” Redmond will be 11 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, at his home located at 3153 WY Hwy. 154 at mile marker 19, Yoder.
Memorials may be directed to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Burial will be held at the Black Hills National Cemetery.
Lou was born in Utica, N.Y., to Louis Redmond and Elizabeth (Madore) Redmond on Aug. 9, 1945. He grew up in Utica with Ray and Eugene and Linda (and others) and enlisted in the Army at the age of 18.
He was blessed with his first daughter Michelle when he was young. He spent his many years of military service in exotic places doing amazing things. He transitioned into working Explosives Ordinance Disposal during the last days of his military career.
During this time, he met his friend Sandy who became his third wife. He retired and began the next phase of his life: scholar and Archeologist. After graduating from UNM, he moved to Chadron, Neb., with the dissolution of his third marriage, where he was able to embrace his Native American heritage with his cousin Tom Cook and extended family in the area.
He retired to begin his own archeological business – Red Feather Archeology – and enjoyed getting paid to do what he loved. Lou moved to Yoder in 1996 and began a new adventure with Tonya and her daughter Kathy, who became Lou’s second daughter when they chose to adopt each other. Lou celebrated welcoming his third daughter Lizzy in 2003.
He received his Doctorate in Philosophy (Anthropology) from Canbourne University, London, UK, in 2004. Lou succumbed to an extremely aggressive cancer on the morning of Sept. 14 with beloved family by his side one day after celebrating his 43rd year of sobriety. He was 75 years old.
His nephew Mike, mother Liz, step-mother Louise, father Louis, sibling Cinda, and many other beloved family members preceded Lou in death.
He is survived by siblings: Chuck and Kyong Redmond, Kathy and Bill Evans, Betty Anne, Donna Sturdevant; daughters: Michelle and Leslie Snipes, Katherine and Rocky Morales, Elizabeth Redmond; grandchildren: Nick, Lilly, Aiden and Silas; nephews: Zac Redmond, Scott Williams, Joseph Williams; and extended family too numerous to mention but all of whom were so important to him and who he kept close in his heart.
Lou was proud of being able to serve in the military and loved dearly his brothers in arms. Lou celebrated his Native American heritage and was honored to be able to Sundance with his many relatives and friends. Lou was so very humbled to be given a second chance at life with recovery in the rooms and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.
To all of you, he would leave you with these words: “Be good to yourself.”
