Obituary of Louis (Lou) Edward Elmer

Louis (Lou) Edward Elmer March 10, 1961 – March 10, 2025 Louis was born to Larry Freeman and Patricia Nay-Church in American Fork, Utah. He was adopted when he was three years old by Sheldon and Pauline Elmer, with whom he spent the remainder of his childhood, and was always treated like he was one of their biological children. He grew up with his Elmer siblings, Jeanie, Christopher and Nathan. He spent the younger years of his childhood living in Payson, Utah, and his teenage years in Eureka, Utah, graduating from Tintic High School in 1979. He was reunited later in life with his biological parents; Larry and Patricia, as well as some of his biological siblings; Lois, Roger, Leland, Alan, Emilia, Larry Jr., Dawnea, and Vicki. Louis was in a relationship with his first wife, Terre Wimmer from 1982 until 1990. Together, they had two children, Preston and Cassie, and he also gained a stepdaughter, Rhonda. Louis shared the last 30 years of his life with his second wife Cathy Turnbow, where he gained four more stepchildren; Jody Lee, Terresa, Jamie Lynn, and Troy. They also adopted a dachshund wiener dog named Pickles, and later a chihuahua named Rigley. Rigley loved riding on the ATVs with Louis. Lou and Cathy loved to go fishing, glamping in their big fifth wheel trailer, shooting guns, riding ATVs, and exploring the desert. Their favorite spots to camp were in Eureka, up at Soldier Summit, at Grantsville Reservoir (The Res), and out in the desert near Wendover. They always looked forward to their annual tradition of camping with family in Eureka for the Tintic Festival, and reuniting with friends there. They also looked forward to the annual Freeman family reunion camp trip at Soldier Summit and riding ATVs up the mountain to their special spot in remembrance of Lou’s biological father, Larry. Lou loved riding his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle that he owned for 13 years. He and Cathy took it on many rides all over. Some of the trips they went on were to Sturgis, Mount Rushmore, on rides through Idaho, Nevada, Price, and Scofield Reservoir. He won many awards for his Gold Wing in motorcycle shows. Lou and Cathy enjoyed being part of the biker community. They were members of the motorcycle club ABATE of Utah, Salt Lake Chapter, where they both held several positions including President, Vice President, Road Captain, Secretary, and Products Coordinator. Lou and Cathy enjoyed many fun times with the ABATE club going on big rides to Wendover, going on the Polar Bear Ride, putting on the biggest motorcycle shows in the state at Davis County Fairgrounds, and participating in many community charity events. They would do big fundraiser rides for The Christmas Box House and Make a Wish Foundation. They would deliver hams, turkeys, and toys to apartment complexes in Salt Lake City with Louis on his motorcycle dressed as Santa Claus. They would select several families to deliver gifts and food to during Christmas time. They would do a huge motorcycle club ride to deliver toys to Primary Children’s Hospital, with a line of motorcycles that went for a few miles long, and each biker would donate toys. They were also members of the B.A.C.A. motorcycle club for a while. Lou was a handy man of many trades, he enjoyed building things, could do electrical work, plumbing, or anything else that needed to be done. He enjoyed working with Cathy on updating the house where they lived together for 30 years in Magna, Utah. He was proud of their completed projects around the house and yard, such as the new roof, the beautiful back yard patio, and the big deck and roof top they built over the patio. He also loved his vehicles and was very particular about the way he cared for them. You could see his pride of ownership in his big Dodge Ram 3500 dually truck, his giant Voltage toy hauler fifth wheel trailer, his ATVs, Cathy’s Jeep, and his cherished Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. He always took such great care of these things. Lou was part of The Backbone of America and drove long haul semi-trucks for most of his life. He loved being a truck driver and his jobs took him all over the country, through 48 states. He hauled cars for Neil’s Automotive Transport in the 1980’s, hauled eggs for Salt Lake Egg, hauled dirt for Erickson Brothers, hauled dirt for Burningham Trucking, and hauled roofing supplies for Pappas Roofing. His most recent truck driving position was with Kiva Energy, where he hauled propane gas to the states surrounding Utah. He drove for them until he became too sick to work. Louis had a fierce love for his family and was very protective and supportive of them. He was a strong pillar of the family, and had a big heart. His strength and love were shown in many different ways. His kids have many grateful memories of Louis helping them out of a bind, driving many miles to save them from a bad situation, defending them at one time or another, helping them out with financial problems, and letting them live at home with him and Cathy temporarily when needed. Louis loved seeing his grandkids and talking to them on the phone. He lit up to say hello to them when they came to visit him in the hospital, even though it was so difficult for him to communicate at that time. His kids and grandkids remember him for teaching them all about cars, motorcycles, ATVs, how to drive, how to back up a vehicle, how to do proper maintenance on their vehicles, working on projects around the house, going off roading in his Chevy Blazer while blasting Pink Floyd and Lynyrd Skynyrd on the radio, going on motorcycle rides on his Honda Gold Wing, going on trips with him in his semi-truck, going on camp trips, fishing, shooting, riding ATVs, his delicious soup and campfire breakfasts, and having long chats. Louis passed away peacefully while surrounded by family, after only a few weeks of being diagnosed with lung cancer that had already spread to many other areas of his body. We are devastated that he was taken so quickly, but also so glad he is no longer in pain. Louis made a full circle and passed away on his 64th birthday. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. We’d like to share a special thank you to the many nurses, doctors, specialists, and hospital staff at Huntsman Cancer Institute for their amazing care of Louis in his final days. They did everything they could to help him try to recover, and to keep him as comfortable as possible. They treated him in his last days with warmth, kindness and dignity. Louis was preceded in death by his parents Sheldon and Pauline Elmer, his biological father Larry Freeman, biological mother Patricia Nay-Church, sister Jeanie Elmer, brother Nathan Elmer, nephew Preston Hiatt, nephew Crosby Hiatt, sister Lois Freeman, brother Leland Freeman, brother Alan Freeman, and brother Roger Freeman. Louis is survived by his wife Cathene Turnbow, all of his children, Rhonda Taylor (husband Ross), Preston Elmer, Cassandra Elmer (fiancé Johnnie Bristow), Jody Lee Turnbow, Terresa Turnbow, Jamie Lynn Turnbow, and Troy Turnbow (wife Kristy), as well as 22 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, his brother Christopher Elmer, niece Chelsea Stockton, sister Emilia Gordon, brother Larry Freeman Jr., nephew Bobby Cook, nephew Dylan Keele, sister Dawnea Schollmeyer, sister Vicki Church, and many other siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. A Celebration of Life will be held for Louis on Sunday, April 13th from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Pioneer Hall at 1137 W. 7800 S., West Jordan, Utah. Please join us for food, music, and memories shared. Please feel free to share memories and photos on the mortuary’s website under his obituary.