Morse, E. Lou Age 94 of Anoka, MN passed away October 1, 2018. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Winifred Hitzfield Morse and E. Percival "Percy" Morse and spent his first years on Park Street in Anoka before moving to the banks of the Mississippi River in Cham plin. His family owned and operated grocery stores in the area for four generations. While studying at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Lou was selected for naval officer training at the University of Dubuque and at Northwestern University's Midshipmen's school in Chicago. Lou learned to navigate at the Adler Planetarium and to sail off the Navy Pier. He entered World War II in 1944 as a communications officer aboard the USS SC-727 (a submarine chaser) and sailed from Pearl Harbor to Johnson Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Guam, and the Philippines. Later he boarded the USS Barnett as second division officer and shuttled Army troops to San Francisco. After taking the Barnett through the Panama Canal to be decommissioned in Boston, Lou stopped in Chicago to visit his good friend Rosemary Warfield, whom he had met at Macalester's Old Main years earlier while registering for their freshman classes. Rosemary told the story of their reunion, "I remember one of my friends coming into my room, saying, 'There's a handsome naval officer downstairs waiting for someone.' It was Lou, of course!" He returned to MN, graduated from Mac, and they were married in 1948. Lou loved Rosemary, his family, friends, many dogs, hard work, sports, chopping firewood, a vigorous debate, a well-turned quip, and traveling. A childhood spent swimming in the Mississippi resulted in a beautiful stroke and a lifelong connection to the river. He had a great sense of humor and often laughed so hard during family dinner table conversations that tears would roll down his cheeks. He was a voracious reader who subscribed to two daily newspapers and read a stack of books monthly. His generation memorized poetry and prose in school; he remembered it all. He was a consummate and chivalrous gentleman who held doors for ladies to his final days. Lou founded an insurance agency in Anoka and developed and managed residential and commercial properties. His son Andrew was his business partner for years before retirement. He is survived by children Rebecca Morse Munns (Dwight), Andrew Morse (Janet), Julie Morse (David Bakke), and Mary Morse Marti (James Marti); grandchildren Charles Nichols (Terra), Matthew Nichols (Tammy), Adrianne Morse (David Sanders), Samuel Morse (Haley), William Morse, and Maxwell Marti; great-grandchildren Peter Sanders, Lewis Sanders, Lydia Nichols, Elsie Nichols, and Sadie Morse; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Rosemary Warfield Morse, many life-long friends, and dear companion Marlys Chutich. A private family memorial is planned. Lou's family wishes to thank the many caring staff of Walker Plaza. Memorials suggested to the Anoka County Historical Society.

Published on October 20, 2018