Louis Peltier

November 25, 1929 – October 20, 2015

Louis Peltier, fondly known as “Louie” by long time Islanders and “Buster” by his brothers and sisters, passed away peacefully at Harrison Hospital on October 20th. He was 85 years old.

Louis was born to Thomas and Josephine Peltier in Stevens County Minnesota, near the little town of Chokio, on November 25, 1929. Father Tom, a blacksmith, was French Canadian and one eighth Indian (probably Ojibwe). Josephine was German and Swiss. One of thirteen children, Louis grew up poor. To survive the Minnesota Winters Louis and his brothers collected corn cobs and left over lumps of coal to heat their house. As a young man Louis learned the meat cutting trade working at a country butcher shop. At 17 he enlisted in the Navy and did a tour of Korea on a destroyer serving as a cook. He met Carolyn Fields while stationed in Seattle and on August 14, 1950 they were married in Palm Springs near Louis’ next port of call, San Diego.

Their first son, Ron, was born in the Spring of 1951 in Seattle. After the Navy Louis and Carolyn settled in West Seattle where Louis once again returned to the meat cutting trade. He worked at the “Top Hat” in Georgetown and “Sig’s” grocery near Fauntleroy. The young family briefly lived with Carolyn’s parents, then a rented basement apartment. They bought a small house in Arbor Heights, before hiring a contractor to build a new and larger house at 32nd Ave SW Seattle in 1956. Son, Tom, was born shortly after, and three years later son Louis Jr. Around 1962 Louis took a job managing the meat department at the Village IGA on Bainbridge Island, commuting six days a week to “the Island”. In the Summer of 1965 Louis and Carolyn moved their family to Bainbridge Island, renting a house in Eagledale for $125/month. In 1966 they built a new house on Lovell Avenue in Winslow. Louis ran the meat market at the Village IGA until about 1974 when the IGA moved across the highway. Louis quit the IGA and became partners in the “Village Foods” grocery store which took over the old Village IGA location. Louis continued to run his meat market at the “new” Village Foods which was in business until about 1986. A year or two after the Village Foods closed its doors the old Village shopping center was demolished and replaced by the current Safeway complex.

Many long time residents still remember Louis as “Louie the butcher”. His experience working as a young man in a country butcher shop served him well as “Louie” earned loyal customers with high quality meat products and friendly service. Sometimes this might include advice to customers experiencing personal difficulties. After butchering several antelope for the late Don Palmer, owner of Bainbridge Disposal, “Louie” received free garbage pickup for life: a promise that was kept even after Don’s passing. After the Village Foods closed Louis worked at Albertson’s in Poulsbo and retired from meat cutting in 1995. He was proud to be a member of the meat cutter’s union and always voted Democrat.

Louis’ interests included flying airplanes, playing the banjo, rock collecting, making jewelry, garage sales, and gardening. He was proud to be a Mason and was once active in the local Masonic Lodge. Louis is survived by his wife Carolyn, sons Tom and Ron. He will be remembered as a straight forward and generous person who loved to tell stories. When neighbors needed a tool, or friendly advice, they knew Louis would have it. “Louie” will be missed and he will be remembered. A service will be held for Louis at the Lutheran church at 1pm on Sunday November 15th. Everyone welcome. For more information contact Ron at (206)842-4798.