Louis Edmund Deniz

1931 – 2025

Louis Edmund Deniz was born July 13, 1931, to Luiz and Mabel Deniz in Turlock, CA. He had two older sisters, Arline Rocha and Tiny (Elmira) Dunn. He was raised on a dairy farm in Gustine, California where he helped his father milk cows before he went to school. He participated in the Future Farmers of America club and won several awards for his livestock. On his 19th birthday he enlisted in the US Navy. Early in his Navy career, he served on two mine sweeper/destroyers during the Korean War. One mine sweeper hit a mine and there were only 12 survivors, including Lou. He was returned stateside and was reassigned. He worked on several ships during his Navy career. He was in the Korean War, The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. Lou eventually became an Electrician’s Mate 2 on three different submarines. He was most proud of his submarine service.

In 1953 he would marry his first wife in Oakland and the following year they had a daughter. Eventually Lou would have five wives and twelve children: Michelle Whitaker (Bill) of California, Alex Deniz (Cindy) of Georgia, Louie Deniz (Lorraine) of Texas, Willie Deniz (deceased), Diana Baker of South Carolina, Linda Baker of Texas, Susan Baker of Alabama, Linda Cormany (deceased), Wanda Laubscher (Lane) of Florida, Alice Nelson (Stephen) of Louisiana, Joyce Schmidt (David) of Missouri, and Jo Anne Nelson (Chris) of California. He also had one nephew, Kenneth Rocha (deceased) and two nieces, Cynthia Schoniger and Christine Mumford of California.

He had 26 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren for a total of 80 offspring.

Lou moved to San Diego in 1963, courtesy of the US Navy. Upon his retirement from the Navy, Lou started his own upholstery business in Escondido. He attended Palomar Community College majoring in Criminal Justice. He almost always had more than one job. He was a good provider for his family. He started working at the Escondido Union High school district in the mid 1970’s as a maintenance worker, transferring to the San Marcos Unified School District where he was employed for many years. Upon retirement he went to work for the Julian Water District, but shortly thereafter returned to the San Marcos School District attaining the position of Chief of Maintenance prior to his full retirement. He moved to Warner Springs where he continued to work as a handyman until 2014.

In 2015 he lost his last wife and moved to San Marcos where he found many new friends and a few old friends at Woodland Village. He loved playing cards and bingo. He loved good food, especially Chinese food and seafood. He loved his family. He was a member of the American Legion and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles for more than 50 years. He also was a member of the Lions Club International and the Veterans of Foreign War.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 am on August 29, 2025 at McLeod Mortuary, 1919 E. Valley Pkwy, Escondido with internment following at 1:00 pm at Miramar National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Legion Post 149.