Louise M. Egan

Louise M. Egan

Age 96, of Northville, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2023. She was born on November 6, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri; daughter of Norman and Amelia (Boehm) Marker. Louise was united in marriage to Thomas W. Egan on June 14, 1948; they spent 57 years lovingly dedicated to one another until his death on October 30, 2005.

Louise graduated from U of D with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.  She began her career as a chemist for Ditzler Paint.  As her family expanded, Louise stopped working and devoted herself to her family. She cherished the time they spent together and especially adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren.   She impressed her love of travel on her grandchildren, treating each to a European vacation.  Throughout the years she enjoyed gathering with extended family whether there was an excuse or not.

Louise had two great loves in her life, family and flying; when she could combine the two, she was happiest.  Earning her license in 1960, she was a general aviation pilot with a commercial license and instrument rating.  Her entire flying career was spent at Canton-Plymouth Mettetal Airport that housed the Cessna 172 airplane she primarily owned.  It was not unusual for her to pack her children into the airplane and travel across the country, a tradition she continued with her grandchildren. They made trips that took them all over the United States including, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia, and even across Michigan.  Louise continued to fly into her 90’s making her one of the very few people actively piloting at that age.

Louise is survived by her children, Alan (Joanne) Egan, Alice (Matthew) Van Benthem, and Nancy (Raj) Sharma; her grandchildren, Joyce (Mark) Whitman, Sheryl (Dan) Ruffi, Aaron (Shiori Takanashi) Egan, Caitlin (Marty) Odom, Brian (Meghan) Hernandez, Ariane (Rob Stein) Hernandez, Zachary (Michelle) Van Benthem, Jacob Van Benthem, Rebecca Van Benthem, Alisha Sharma, Shaan Sharma, and Nikita (Chelsea) Sharma; and her great grandchildren, Karl (Arielle) Whitman, Liam Whitman, Miranda Polhemus, Courtney Polhemus, Anna Polhemus, Holly Ruffi, Samantha Ruffi, Tyler Ruffi, Nora Odom, Carter Odom, Lucas Odom, Maddie Odom, Mila Hernandez, Israel Hernandez, Joy Van Benthem, Stella Van Benthem, Oliver Van Benthem, and Amelia Van Benthem.  She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her brother Michael Marker.

A Time of Gathering will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until Noon with a Memorial Service at Noon at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville.  She will be laid to rest with her husband at Rural Hill Cemetery in Northville.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to American Cancer Society , PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), PO Box 37920, Boone, IA 50037.