Louis "Lou" Colletta

Louis “Lou” Colletta, 90, of Pigeon passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia with his family by his side. Lou was born on January 24, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan to the late Bartolomeo and Josephine (Culmone) Colletta and attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit where he discovered his gift for technical drawing and mechanical design. Growing up, Lou was raised all over the east side of Detroit; his mother loved to buy and sell houses, moving every eighteen months or so. When he was seventeen, Lou enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country during the Korean conflict, putting his technical skills to work on the military’s planes. He was stationed at Selfridge Air Base following his service in Korea until his honorable discharge in 1956.

Lou met Dorothy Pobanz in the fall of 1955 and the couple married on February 4, 1956, sharing over 68 years together until her passing on November 10, 2024. He continued developing his technical skills as part of an apprenticeship program with the Ford Motor Company, becoming a journeyman and working in the skilled trades until his retirement in 1994. Lou became very active in Lake Township after his retirement, working on the Planning Commission and helping develop the township’s master plan. He had a passion for woodworking and could fix anything, making sure everyone in the family never needed to rely on a repairperson. Lou embraced every hobby he ever came across, taking up motorcycling (much to the chagrin of his doctor), painting Christmas themes on his home’s picture window, and maintaining a CB radio antenna that connected him with countless people throughout the community.

Lou is survived by his children, Louis of Syracuse, NY, Marge (John Zott) of Alexandria, VA, and Jack (Katie) of Winter Garden, FL; grandchildren, Christopher, Stephen (Nicki), Kassie (Brian), Adam, and Evan; great-grandchildren Olivia and Rhea; sister-in-law Shirley Racioppa of Grand Prairie, TX; and brother-in-law Gerald (Sandy) Pobanz of Port Austin.

In accordance with Lou’s wishes, cremation is to take place, with a celebration of his life planned for the early summer of 2026. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Michigan Huron County Democratic Party or the Huron County Nature Center.