Obituaries

Louis Gonzalez, Jr., age 71, passed away on the evening of Sept. 24.

He was born on April 5, 1952, in New Jersey, to Louis Gonzalez and Rose Centra. They raised Lou and his brother Charles in Scotch Plains, N.J.

Lou moved to Laramie, Wyoming, in 1970 to attend the University of Wyoming, where he met his wife Sandra and graduated with a degree in range management.

The couple moved to Westchester, IL, near Sandra’s family in 1976 and eventually settled in Elburn, IL, where they lived for 35 years caring for horses and dogs and raising their daughter Sarah.

Shortly after moving to Illinois, Lou founded Arcadian Landscape Construction. His handiwork over the next 35 years can be seen throughout the western Chicago suburbs in residential brick driveways, patios, retaining walls and other construction, including some commercial projects.

Lou was passionate about the outdoors and found peace in the woods of southern Illinois and the open range and mountains of Wyoming. As an outdoorsman, he made lifelong friendships bonding over hunting and archery, with his respect for wildlife and conservation at the core of his philosophy.

An avid horseman, he spent his youth riding and working in stables, spent time working on a Wyoming ranch and riding in rodeos as a young adult, and competing in equestrian eventing alongside his wife in Illinois.

Lou’s parents and brother preceded him in death. Survivors include his daughter Sarah and his wife Sandra.

A celebration of Lou’s life will be held 1:00 P.M. to 4 P.M. on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Yurs Funeral Home in Geneva, IL.

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