Mike Loizeaux

Mike Loizeaux of Beaverkill, NY, husband of the Ellen Loizeaux, (October 12, 1935 - May 21, 2012) the retired owner of the Shop in the Valley in Roscoe, died Sunday, July 1, 2012, at the home of his step-daughter, Siobhan "Sam" Bennett and son-in-law Martin Ulloa Estrada, in Allentown, PA with his beloved family at his side. He was 88 years old.

The son of the late Johanna Catharina Marquardt (b. Ullner) and Otto Carl August Marquardt Mike was born Hellmut Edwin Marquardt June 18, 1924 in Hamburg, Germany. While a young man in World War II, he was a prisoner-of-war in Russia; later immigrating to the United States and becoming a U.S. citizen on January 6, 1958 at the Supreme Court of Binghamton, NY. A graduate of the State University College at Oneonta with degrees in Education and Spanish, he was fluent in five languages: English, Spanish, German, Russian and Azerbijani and became a teacher in the Oneonta School District. Importantly, Mike changed his name to Loizeaux upon his marriage to Ellen in 1977, feeling her family had truly become his family.

Mike, a long time resident of the Beaverkill Valley, NY despite worsening illness, was actively involved with his wife, Ellen Loizeaux, in his community, including being a long-time member of the Beaverkill Community Church and involved in the Democratic Party Committee in Sullivan County, NY. Well-known as a 'mister fix-it' and 'jack-of-all-trades', many friends and neighbors relied on his vast repertoire of knowledge, especially of all things mechanical.

His survivors include: a step-son and two step-daughters, John T. Bennett (Livingston Manor, 1983) of Phoenix, AZ; Drieux Koeppel of Vestal, NY; and, Siobhan "Sam" Bennett of in Allentown, PA; their spouses Debbie Ondovcik, Dr. Peter Koeppel and Martin Ulloa Estrada respectively; his grandchildren in birth order: Thomas Bennett, Kelsey Bennett, Zane Ondovick, Emma Selina Tipping and her spouse, Michael Golden and brand-new great-granddaughter, Rosie; Karl-Wilhelm Koeppel, Rachael Ellen Tipping, Paul-Franz Koeppel, and David Bennett Estrada. He was predeceased by one brother-in-law, Timothy R. Loizeaux, Jr. and is survived by his loving sister-in-laws Katherine "Bebe" Loizeaux and Nancy L. Pricer and her spouse W. David Pricer, and his beloved brother-in-law Captain A. Drew Loizeaux.

Graveside committal service officiated by Lay Speaker Mary Hall will be held at approximately 11 AM at the Beaverkill Cemetery immediately after that church's regular Sunday July 8, 2012 10 am summer service. Donations can be made in Mike's name to the Beaverkill Community Church, P.O. Box 650, Roscoe NY 12776. Memorial Service will be held 12:30 pm Saturday August 4, 2012 at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator 1620 Turner Street Allentown, PA 18012.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave. Roscoe, NY. 607-498-4929 or 845-439-5200 www-Harris-FH.com