Obituary: Louis Saltzer Jr.

A celebration of life for Louis Saltzer Jr. of Carson City will be at 1 p.m. today at the West Point Community Church in West Point, Calif.

Mr. Saltzer died April 29, 2003, at his home. He was born Sept. 30, 1913, in Olcsva-Apati, Hungary.

He immigrated to the United States in 1928 on the Ile de France ocean liner. He settled in Riverside, Calif., where he learned English and completed his education. After high school, he joined his father in mining. He later worked on road construction as an expert dynamite blaster, blazing the California Trail on Highway 395 from Palomar to Mammoth, on Sonora and Tioga passes, and on old Highway 101 outside of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Mr. Saltzer was a millwright for several steel mills in Southern California from 1940 to 1970.

His love was mining, and after retirement, he headed to the Mother Lode country of California to pursue his interest. He also enjoyed gardening, family gatherings and helping his children.

Among his survivors are his former wife, Margaret of Carson City; children Kathy of Carbondale, Ill., Lou of West Point, Calif., and Ilonka, Nancy and Gigi of Carson City ; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions may be made to St, Mary's Hospice of Northern Nevada, 520 W. 6th St., Reno, NV 89503-9911; or to a favorite charity.

Walton's Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.