Louis Schirm III, BHS 1938

Louis Schirm III, BHS 1938

Louis Schirm III was born March 30, 1920, in San Diego, to Louis Schirm Jr. and Harriet Virginia (Hartz) Blake Schirm. He grew up in southern California, where he graduated from Burbank High School and attended Notre Dame University for two years before joining the Army to serve as an officer in Europe during WWII.

Lou was a captain in the 17th Port, in charge of transportation in Ghent, Belgium where he met the love of his life and wife of over 50 years, Henriette (”Yette”) Scribe. His duties included teaching young men how to drive all kinds of machinery, servicing the motors and loading the boats, with all the supplies for the jeeps, tanks, etc. He was stationed in England, then Antwerp and later in January of 1945 in Ghent, Belgium.

After the war, Louis and Yette settled in Burbank, and Louis completed his college education at Woodbury College in Los Angeles. Lou worked at Lockheed in Burbank, Magnasync, and later Avnet in Culver City, in the mechanical engineering fields. He finished his career working for his son Louie IV at a high tech electronics company.

He and wife Yette raised five children first in Burbank and later Torrance. Louis was an active Boy Scout assistant scoutmaster, then later an active Sea Scout master when his daughters were in high school. Lou was recognized for 25 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America. Lou was an Eagle Scout himself. Lou also volunteered for many positions at the King Harbor Yacht Club, at his home parrish, and for several nonprofit organizations over the years — usually related to computers or helping to provide computers to schools and families who needed the new technology.

In 1993, Lou and Yette moved to Napa to live close to daughter, Nicky and her husband, Tom, and Lou continued his tradition of volunteer service and community involvement along with Yette, which included: Napa Valley PC users group, Choix De Vie (later called Rainbow House), Cybermill Clubhouse, Riverpark Homeowners Association, Napa Valley Yacht Club, Native Sons and several local veterans groups and associations. He also volunteered at Mt. George Grade School on occasion in the early 1990s.

Lou is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Kathy Schirm; brother-in-law and his wife, Rene and Phillis Scribe; son, Louis Schirm IV; daughter, Nicky (Schirm) Suard; daughter, Lorette (Schirm) Harnsberger; grandchildren, Phillip Hansberger, Rachael (Harnsberger) van Gorp, Ryan Harnsberger, Kelli Schirm, Lisa (Schirm) Aulick, Bonnie (Brierley) Hanson, Sean Brierley, Kyle Brierley, Brigitte Brierley, Tyler Suard, Cory Suard, Carrie (Caldwell) Johnson; great-grandchildren, Emily Johnson, Tucker Johnson and “pending” Hanson; and cousins, in-laws or other family members, Linda, Fritz, Tom, Casey, Johan, Tina, Ricky, Bobby, Evan, all the Santa Barbara Bohnette, Wehe and King clans and many others! Lou’s wife, Yette and daughters, Jill Brierley and Micheline Caldwell predeceased Lou.

Memorial services will be held Monday, March 21, 2011, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Acquinas Catholic Church in Napa, with interment immediately thereafter at Tulocay. There will also be a Celebration of Life luncheon afterwards at the Napa Valley Yacht Club. There will also be a Rosary on Sunday March 20, 2011, at 7 p.m. at Tulocay with visitation starting at 5 p.m.