Emery John (Skip) Balga Jr.

Mr. Balga graduated from Fortier High School in New Orleans. He attended SLI (later named USL then ULL) in Lafayette, LA and UNO in New Orleans.

He served in the US Navy and was assigned to the USS Vesole during its involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

His personality led him into sales and he was a successful sales representative in several diverse industries.

His favorite sports were golf and pool, but he also enjoyed bowling, skating, and dancing. While he and his wife were living in Georgia they made annual trips to Helen, GA, to attend Oktoberfest. When they returned to Louisiana after retirement, he immediately joined the Deutsches Haus to celebrate that culture. They also enjoyed Louisiana’s wide range of festivals, school and church fairs, and, of course, Mardi Gras.

He was preceded in death by his father Emery J. Balga and mother Barbara Fields Balga, father-in-law John Karpiuk and his wife Nancy Weis Karpiuk, brothers John and James, and brother-in-law John Karpiuk Jr.

Remaining family members include best friend and wife of over 37 years Susan K. Karpiuk, son Emery J. Balga III, sister Joanne Balga Young, and sisters-in-law Dayna Balga, Sharon Karpiuk Tanner (husband Michael Raymond Tanner), and Canan Karpiuk and many loving nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Fond memories and condolences may be shared at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.