Kenneth “Kenny” James Louie
February 6, 1954 - August 20, 2025
Kenny Louie was a skier, an Alta man through and through who, for decades, routinely skied more than 100 days a year, never so much as hurting a knee. But late last ski season he was diagnosed with a rare and insidious form of cancer that, try as he might, he could not outrace. The monster claimed Kenny on August 20, 2025. He was a youthful 71.
Born on February 6, 1954 in Salt Lake City to William Wing and Merrie Okamura Louie, their second son followed by five girls, Kenny attended Millcreek Elementary before moving to St. Ann School in the third grade. He graduated from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in 1972. Kenny entered the workforce after Judge, employed for five years by Marron and Associates before joining The Williams Companies and later Kennecott. He developed a specialty as a draftsman designing pump stations for the Bingham Canyon Mine and gold mines in Nevada. This was work he often could do at home at night on a drafting table in his one room not overflowing with recreational gear – every pair of skis he ever owned, canoes, backpacks, tents, coolers, etc. Thus Kenny was free to ski on any winter day he wished (powder days were never missed) or to stagger his work schedule to allow for two-week floats through the Grand Canyon or lengthy sojourns to Hawaii.
His lifestyle became known to friends as the “Life of Lu,” a phrase he adopted as his email address.
Kenny caught the ski bug early. As a kindergartner, his parents enrolled him in a learn-to-ski program conducted at Brighton. Before long, he was riding exuberantly up Alta lifts run by his uncles, Buck Sasaki, Les Fuller and Joe Okamura. For years he whizzed past buildings designed by his architect father (Alf’s Restaurant, Alta ticket office, Albion Day Lodge, the old Alpenglow Restaurant), usually in the company of cousins, siblings or an array of good skiers who appreciated Kenny’s penchant for taking on whatever the mountain had to offer in his laid-back style. Kenny was known to have an entourage.
He was forever proud of the first pair of skis he bought on his own: Head 360s. He was sly enough to learn at a young age how to cut long lift lines so subtly most people didn’t notice. More importantly, from having spent so much time on the mountain, Kenny had a true knack for predicting where the snow was likely to be good on a given day, in a given hour, figuring in how the wind had moved flakes around and how clouds and sun angles affected the snowpack. He just knew that stuff.
Kenny also was a visible presence for half a century in the locker room beneath Goldminer’s Daughter – gearing up most days with his sister, Lisa, and wife, Jan. He was known for being quietly friendly to all. Deep down he was shy.
Family was important to Kenny. Growing up, the Louies were a closely-knit bunch, particularly when it came to sharing big meals reflecting their American melting-pot heritage as descendants of Chinese, Japanese and Mexican immigrants. As an adult, Kenny made time to organize special trips with his sisters. He exposed them, as he did his nieces, nephews and in-laws, to the wonders of nature that so excited him: The Wind Rivers, Glacier, Needles, the Maze, Great Basin, Albion Basin to name a few iconic Western locations. He was the mastermind behind a series of highly memorable trips to Long Lake in the Winds with his closest friends. He planned expeditions to remote, dark locations to get exceptional views of meteorite showers and eclipses. The most impactful trip of his life took him to Death Hollow in southern Utah. Kenny had agreed to help Katie Mitchell – whom he had met at the old Watson’s Shelter in a case of mistaken identity – to negotiate the strenuous hike along with her sister and teenage niece. That sister was Jan Orme. A relationship formed that trip between Kenny and Jan that evolved over time from simple friendship to true love, culminating in their marriage on November 10, 2001.
Of special significance was an October 1998 outing he put together at Arches National Park. The three-day affair attracted nearly 50 members of the extended Louie family and close friends, headlined by the presence of Will and Merrie. What a joy it was for Kenny to take his folks into the Fiery Furnace.
One of the nastiest aspects of Kenny’s disease was that it robbed him of his ability to enjoy eating. Kenny loved to eat. All kinds of food, but especially Asian. Tuesday lunch at the Koyo was a staple. And each February one local restaurant or another was treated to a large group gathering for his birthday. When he had a boat, he would take fishing trips to Lake Powell and then host bass fries at his apartment for scores. Friends would roll their eyes when Kenny would say periodically “I don’t eat as much as I used to,” perplexed how he could keep trim despite that appetite. It had to be all that exercise he got, much while getting to know just about every bit of Alta through skiing or hiking. A skilled photographer, he built an impressive slideshow of wildlife, scenic vistas and wildflowers.
Missing him terribly will be his survivors, widow, Jan; her daughter, Lara Orme; brother, Gordon (Sharon); sisters, Maria (Jim Kier); Cindi (Dan Kaschmitter); Lisa (Paul Cisneros); Teresa (Richard) Leigh; and Melanie; nieces and nephews, Willie (Anna) Louie; Kelli (Tracy) Louie; Alex (Nancy) Kaschmitter; Niki Kaschmitter; William (Celine) Cisneros; Taylor Leigh; Christopher Leigh; Anna (Dean) Quill; Doogie (Sheena) Castillo; and Michael (Shay) Castillo; and Jan’s sisters, Ann Holbrook; Ruth Kadas; Katie (Rodger) Mitchell; and Lela (Larry) Matson. Great stories and warm memories will be shared about Uncle Kenny with his grand nieces and nephews including Peter Castillo, Jasmine Castillo, Grace Castillo, Ezra Castillo, Oliver Quill, Madeleine Louie, Stella Kaschmitter, Esti Kaschmitter, Jack Louie and Theo Louie.
The family would like to thank Dr. Nicholas Hanson at Alpine Medical Group, Dr. Jeffrey Patterson-Fortin, Alexis Keo, Thuy Pham, Rebecca Cuniberti and the other doctors, nurses and staff at Huntsman Cancer Institute for their loving care of Kenny.
Kenny’s viewing will be held September 16 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann Church, 450 East 2100 South, with Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 11:30 a.m. followed by his Funeral Mass at noon. His Celebration of Life will take place that evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East. Kenny will be buried next to his parents at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park on Wednesday, September 17th at 2:00 PM.
Donations in Kenny’s name may be made to Huntsman Cancer Institute https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/foundation/ways-to-give or to Alta Ski Patrol https://www.amazingskiandsnowpeople.org in thanks for many years of keeping Kenny safe.
In Loving Memory
Kenny, your a good man and will be missed at Algta
My sincere condolences to all of those who knew Kenny! When the Alta community looses and avid skier we all feel it.
Kenny was a wonderful friend. Whether skiing at Alta, backpacking the Winds, getting up early to watch the sun rise in Needles or eating good food it was always enjoyable to be with him. I will always be grateful to Kenny for inviting my two-year-old daughter Hailey and I to Arches NP, to camp with the whole Louie clan. It was a special weekend for us and the all the Louie's treated us like we were part of the family. I will miss him in so many ways, and my heart goes out to Jan, Laura, and the Louie family. As it has been said before and will be said again Alta just won’t be quite the same.
Whether it was annual trips to Needles or countless ski days up at Alta, Kenny is ingrained in many of my favorite childhood memories. Kenny demonstrated his love for me and my brothers constantly with his quiet acceptance and simple invitations to wake up early to watch the sunrise on the red rocks (many of which I was the only kid to take him up on the offer), or venture through a tough hike to a peak with incredible views. Kenny taught us all to live in the moment and appreciate the beauty of everything around us completely, often implicating that the best “photos” aren’t the ones that you physically capture, but those that you fully enjoy in the moment. I will forever be grateful for the man that befriended my Dad up at Alta, and showed him love and numerous years of friendship that overflowed to my whole family. It’s hard to imagine all of the places and experiences that won’t be the same without him. I will miss him popping by my parent’s infamous New Year’s party and dealing with the antics that repeat themselves every year. I will miss his kind smile and gentle hugs as we ran into each other in the Goldminer’s locker room. Most of all though, I feel beyond grateful and blessed to have known Kenny and am so thankful I get to experience so many amazing places that will always serve as reminders of beautiful memories with him. We love and miss you Kenny.
Jan, so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute and much deserved. Take care. Hugs and prayers to your family.
Kenny was a very authentic and humble man and friend. He was a mentor and the big brother I never had. While soft spoken, when he talked, you listened to his wisdom and ideas, especially on what powder run to ski or what hike to do. I learned so much from him about his love for skiing and hiking at Alta! He also taught me about the beauty of the desert and the joy of desserts!! He meant so much to my family. I know he will be always with us as we enjoy all the places he turned us on to!
~Take long long way home Dear Kenny~ ~Love to The Louie Family and Friends~
Jan, Gordon, Cindy, Lisa and extended family, So sorry to hear about my dear friend Kenny’s passing! Kenny was always a pleasure to be with, whether helping me gather my equipment after falling down the hills of Alta, or standing side by side at a gathering of old Judge Memorial graduates, sharing an adult beverage. I Send my best wishes during this very sad time to all that loved Kenny as I did. Will be thinking of Kenny every time I visit the Goldminer’s Daughter locker room during all of the days that I hope to visit during all of those great “Powder Days”. John and Shannon Harte
Jan, Laura & the Louie Family, my sincere condolences 🙏. Kenny taught many how to enjoy life. We all shared so many happy memories together, T-Days fireworks , holidays, coming to AZ making Tamales together ❤️ I always saw a smile on this man's face . Kenny you were so loved & will be greatly missed, more so by your loving wife Jan, please give her the strength to move forward to continue your legacy to live life at its fullest & make happy memories with the family, Rest in peace my dear friend, Linda
One morning we hiked out to the Devil's Castle, and skied a long route in fresh snow. At the bottom, Kenny said "I could only have made another one hundred turns."
Kenny was a leader who did not need a megaphone to deliver his messages, of which there were many — find the best powder run, climb to a beautiful view on a mountain peak, go camping in Utah’s red rocks, be audaciously adventurous and carry packs and a canoe into the Wind Rivers, listen to the Moody Blues and Billy Joel, drive unique cars like a BMW 2002 and a Peugeot, if you are going to acquire “gear” get the best, follow your heart and instincts as you navigate life’s challenges and chart a course that suits you and not what necessarily conforms to society’s norms. As a stand-in for my brother who lived for 24 short precious hours, I followed Kenny’s guidance on how to enjoy life while doing so with honor and respect for others and Mother Earth. Despite his passing I will continue to listen to his wisdom. His leadership will endure. I will think of Kenny whenever I am somewhere breathtakingly beautiful. Sincere condolences to Jan and her family and to his best buddy and sister, Lisa, and the entire Louie clan. You will always have our love and support.
I met Kenny decades ago when I married Roger. I was re-introduced to skiing, hiking and initiated to mountain biking. Kenny was always there with tips that made the experiences easier and memorable. I will never forget biking the White Rim Trail with Kenny, Jan, and Roger along with other seasoned bikers. I was the newby and ended up probably walking 1/2 of the Trail. About 1/2 halfway through the trip, it’s hot, we are dirty and saving water where we can, Kenny pulls out ice cream sandwiches for everyone! He was just elevated to Angel status from there and on every future adventure. He knew how to make them memorable. Kenny will be missed by many and some he probably doesn’t even know as an expert but most of all a wonderful friend. My thoughts and prayer are with Jan, Lara, Lisa, Cindi and the rest of the Louie family.
Learning more about Kenny’s skills and adventures is so cool! It is so nice to read about the impact he has on so many - especially family and friends. Kenny is just a kind dude with a big heart. He was always so kind to me as we chatted during family bbqs and dinners at Larry & Lela’s. My first time on the mountain this season, I will pause and give thanks to have known him. God bless!
Jan, Lara, Maria, Lisa and all the Louie family Roger and I are so sorry for your loss. I have had the pleasure of knowing Kenny for 63 years! He was an incredibly kind and loving friend ❤️ to my brother Mike Gorrell. He will always hold a special place in my heart for the kind person he was. Please find comfort and peace in knowing that he is pain free and that he has been reunited with Will and Merrie❣️♥️
Dear Louie Family - On behalf of the Brown family siblings from St. Ann's, we extend our sincere condolences on the passing of Kenny. Your family is extraordinary in so many ways, and it's always been a privilege to know you. Your kindness and inclusion of everyone is a testament to the goodness of your hearts and souls. May you find comfort in all the amazing things that Kenny brought to each of your lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely and with love, Mary, Jim, Barb, Joe, and Teresa
To the enormormous extended Louie/Okamura, etal, clan, my deepest condolences. I was shocked ti hear of Kenny's passing. The last time I saw him was at the Beggar's banquet, where he said he appreciated & thanked me for my friendship with his dad, Will; & he kept in touch with me every so to let me know how Will was doing during the last few yrs & when the pandemic kept friends apart & b4 Will passed. I remember first meeting the Louies in the late 60s when my parents took us to meet the family at their home, some of the kids in both families were the same age. Then I got to know Kenny during our Judge St Mary's years and Kenny and I reconnected at the 1st class reunion. Over the yrs we touched base, and I always thought of Kenny everytime it snowed, knowing he'd be chomping at the bit to hit the slopes. but I had no idea he had gotten sick. His buddy Mike Gorell posted Kenny's passing and I thought of all the decades and moments we shared with all the Louies and their extended clan. God bless Kenny. I'm sure Will & Merrie were waiting to greet him in heaven. Again, my deepest condolences to his wife, daughter, sisters, and cousins, all of the extended Louie clan. Kenny will be remembered fondly
I have two fond memories of Kenny. The first was at Lisa‘s 50th birthday party. I met Kenny and another person named Roger. Add alcohol and dancing, people say funny things. The second fond memory is seeing Lisa and Kenny at the bottom or top of Collins lift. Kenny always had a big smile on his face. Kenny,Your presence will be missed. You will Always be remembered.
Sending our deepest condolences to Jan and the family. We are so grateful to have known such an honorable, wonderful man. He always welcomed us and made us feel included. Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures and words of his life's legacy. He is truly to be remembered, gone too soon but never forgotten. With so much love, Shane and Kelly Duffin
Jan and family, we are so sorry that Kenny has passed. He lit up the lives of so many and will be missed by all. We have known Kenny since our school days and of course, some amazing ski days at Alta. Rest in peace, dear Kenny. With deepest sympathy, Jeff & Joan
For those of us who had the opportunity to know Kenny in school and on the slopes of Alta, his kindness and joy is a lifetime example of true art. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Louie family - but know that you have an infinite repository of cherished memories. We are grateful to have ours as well. Thank you, Kenny for making our lives richer in finding joy in the important things. Linda, John and Bill Kunzweiler
A Good Man! He will be missed- Alta will miss him.
Kenny was a great man. We will all miss him. We give our condolences to Jan and his family. He will be missed.
So fortunate to have camped next door to Kenny and Jan last summer in Albion Basin and just sit and look at the Castle, moose and the meadow. Not much talking but did get very detailed and meticulous directions on how to make his chile. Think we ate some, too. I was so enamored with his manor and storytelling. He always greeted you with a "hi" followed by your name. I will hear that forever when I'm skiing up at Alta. Lisa and Jan had the same greetings. So lucky to have known him and to know Jan and the Louie family. My condolences to all.
Just sharing Alta or the desert with Kenny made the day better, and indeed, our lives better.
In Loving Memory
