Edwin L. "Lou" Thorne

Edwin L. “Lou” Thorne, 78 of Elmira, passed away Monday, November 21, 2022, at home.  Known in the Gaylord area as “Liquid Louie”, he was a well-known long time local bartender.

Born March 11, 1944 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, he was the son of Lawrence R. and Alma M. (Kinney) Thorne.  As a young man, he worked two seasons on the Great Lakes on the vessel Horace Johnson as a porter and a cook.

Lou learned his trade as a bartender from his foster father who owned a bar.  He lived in St. Ignace for several years, where he worked as a bartender at the Cabaret.  He also worked at the Embers in Mackinaw City for a few years.

In 1985, Lou and his wife, Beverly, moved to Gaylord where he became well known and loved by his customers at the Raindancer, Tip Top, the Otsego Club’s Logmark bar, the Bearded Dogg, Rascal Jacks and Café 32.  Having once left the Logmark, customer demand took him back there again.  After retiring, Lou enjoyed helping Bev at the many craft shows at which she displayed her work.  Lou became an artist in his own right as a self-taught painter and sculptor.  He would often create paintings of customers at craft shows.  In his spare time, he loved spending time with his family and helping others in need of a helping hand.

Lou is survived by his wife, Beverly; his children, Jean Ann (Tom) Colebank of Coleman and Cliff Thorne of Elmira; grandchildren, Steven (Amanda) Bate, Patrick (Kimberly) Bollinger, John (Andrea) Bollinger, Dillon (Bri) Bollinger; and four great grandchildren.  He is also survived by brothers and sisters, Monica Aungulo, Delores Blanchard, Don (Pat) Thorne, Robert (Peg) Thorne, and Vic (Karen) Thorne, and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by a son, John Allen Thomas in 1983; and brothers, Lawrence Thorne Jr., and Jim Thorne.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service where visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 AM.  Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions in Lou’s memory to the Elmira Fire Department.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com