Louis Bernard Errea, age 83, passed peacefully into the arms of our Savior with his family at his side on April 15, 2013.
Louis was born in the Basque Country of the Pyrenees Mountains of France in the town of St. Etienne de Baigorry to Manuel and Marie Louise Errea on September 21, 1929.
His father Manuel passed away when Louis was 14; therefore, all the oldest children went to work to support the family.
Louis migrated to the United States, coming to Elko, Nev., to herd sheep for his uncle and aunt, Martin and Anna Hacquet. Not being very fond of the whole sheep industry, he moved to California and worked on dairy farms and ranches until he and four friends came to Winnemucca to work the mines in 1955. Here he met and married Joan Marie Paris, who became his wife. The couple was married for 58 years, with two children born to this union; son, Louis Michael and daughter, Lianne Errea Iroz.
Louis, being a hard-working, tireless man, worked at full-time jobs and sometimes moonlighted at part-time jobs and weekends. He was employed at the Riley Mine, at Getchell, Cordero and the Tungsten mine. He worked at California Pacific, Humboldt County Road Department, city of Winnemucca, and finished out his career at the state of Nevada Department of Transportation.
Louis was pre-deceased by his parents, his brother Jeannot, who was killed in action in Indo-China, and his youngest sister Martha Gostisbehere.
Louis Errea is survived by his wife, Joan Marie, son Louis Michael Errea, daughter Lianne Errea Iroz, son-in-law John Iroz, and grandson Martin Iroz all of Winnemucca. He is also survived by his brother Michael (Velma) Errea of Reno, his sister Eleanore of France, several nieces and nephews and cousins of both countries.
Funeral services for Louis Errea will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Winnemucca on April 27, 2013, with the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 9:30 a.m. and mass to follow at 10 a.m.
A reception will be held following the services at the Martin Hotel on Railroad Street.[[In-content Ad]]
