Louis was the only child of Louis H. Sr. and Violet Loretta Fightmaster Fricke and was born December 22, 1928. Due to the economic conditions of the Depression in 1929, he lived in 17 different places and attended 13 grade schools. He graduated from Shenandoah Grade School in 1943. In 1947 he graduated from Maplewood High School.
He enrolled in St. Louis University and received a BSEE from there in 1951. He was awarded a graduate Fellowship by SLU even though he was not Catholic. His first part-time job was at Parke Thompson Associates while at SLU. He received the MS in Research in 1957 also from SLU.
From 1957 to December 1985 he was employed by Monsanto Research and Engineering. While at Monsanto, he received 21 patents on process control. He also gave papers on his work at conventions. He worked part time after his retirement at Clark Door Company from 1987 to 1990.
He was honored in October of 1998 by the Instrument Society of America to become a FELLOW in that organization for his contributions to the design and simulation of process control systems. In 2001 he was again honored by ISA with the UOP Technology Award for his innovative work on Silicon.
He married Joan Giessow on June 26, 1993. They bought a home in Chesterfield, and they began attending St. Martin's Episcopal Church. They participated in many services and activities of the Church. They were in charge of the coffee hour for years, counted money offerings on Monday mornings, sold grocery coupons, and other volunteer activities. Although they loved their neighbors and home, they knew it was time to move. They chose Meramec Bluffs Retirement Home and moved there in December of 2009.
Services: Visitation at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 15764 Clayton Rd, Ballwin on Wednesday, September 23, from 10:00 am until time of Service at 11:00 am. Interment Oak Hill Cemetery. Memorials to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church or a charity of one’s choice appreciated.
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