Louie J. Baggen
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- Created on Friday, 02 December 2016 12:51
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Louie J. Baggen
Louie J. Baggen peacefully passed away at his home in Sitka on Sunday, Nov. 26, at the age of 66.
Louie was a lifelong Sitkan, born on June 28, 1950, the second child of George and Anna Baggen. In his youth, Louie demonstrated natural skill in a wide variety of areas. He spent his early summers aboard the tugboat fleet of the family business, Samson Tug and Barge.
His hobbies included photography and diving. For years, he was regarded as one of Sitka’s top bowlers with a graceful left-handed hook. Long-time Elks members will remember Louie as their popular bartender at the club in the 1980s, a friendly face for all who crossed his path.
Of all Louie’s great talents, the passion of his life was music. A self-taught blues and rock guitarist, Louie lived and breathed the working-band life for years in Sitka and throughout the Pacific Northwest. He drew inspiration from the likes of Buddy Guy, Roy Buchanan and, of course, his beloved Rolling Stones and Keith Richards. Anyone lucky enough to hear his guitar, whether at a club in front of a band or strumming at his home, his gifted and memorable style was always admired and appreciated.
Louie ultimately returned to the family business where he worked a variety of positions. He was an exceptional equipment and boat operator, also serving in a security capacity before retiring in 2012 after more than 25 years with Samson Tug and Barge.
His recent years were spent as a volunteer caretaker at the Sitka Sportsman Association Shooting Range, where he was known and appreciated for his presence and maintenance of the area.
Louie is survived by his older brother George, younger sister Ann-Marie, and mother Anna, all of Sitka, and his younger brother Marty, of Oregon. The family will announce details for a memorial at a later date.
Louie will be remembered by his family and friends as someone who could called upon when needed, and one who could offer a smile and a laugh with a wit that will be greatly missed.
Thanks to the generosity and expertise of the the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska broadband department, Tidal Network ; Christopher Cropley, director of Tidal Network; and Luke Johnson, Tidal Network technician, SitkaSentinel.com is again being updated. Tidal Network has been working tirelessly to install Starlink satellite equipment for city and other critical institutions, including the Sentinel, following the sudden breakage of GCI's fiberoptic cable on August 29, which left most of Sitka without internet or phone connections. CCTHITA's public-spirited response to the emergency is inspiring.
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