Louis Albert Abrams

Louis Albert Abrass, died peacefully in his sleep, at home with his family on Wednesday, Dec 17th, 2008. He is now resting comfortably without worry or pain in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ. Louis was the most amazing and wonderful husband, father, grandfather (Jiddee), and human being any one could have ever been blessed to know. His family was the most important thing to him and he showed that to each of us every moment of his life. He was a caring and gentle man who once said "If I ever had to live my life over again, I would not change a single thing". Louis was a WWII Veteran. He opened his own grocery store as a senior in high school at the very young age of 18. It began with the name of "Mary-Lou's" and then was changed to "Variety Market" and flourished in the North End of Toledo Ohio for over 50 years. People came from across the states to get a taste of his "still secret" Polish Kielbasa. He sold thousands and thousands of pounds all through the holidays each year. The store was always filled with excitement and love with customers whom he referred to as his "extended family". Lou was a very respected business man because he was always honest and fair. Louis belonged to a group of about 20 men who met together every month since the age of 18 to socialize, for charitable reasons, and to encourage each other throughout their lives. This was very important to him. Louis was a very talented photographer who loved to film great family events and activities. Using a 16mm movie camera, he scripted his own family movies using titleboards, double exposure, fast and slow motion and spectacular trick photography. His works will be cherished and watched for years to come. Louis is preceded in death by his brothers George, Joseph, and Al, sisters Adelle and Mary and son Kenneth. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Genevieve and his children Gary (Elaine) - children Andrew and Leah; Karen (Jack Schultz) children, Krista, Justin (Kristin), Keriann, and Kensey; Mark (Debi) children, Brandon, Evan and Samantha; Beth (Donal Hummer) children Jake and Natalie; and also daughter in law Sue Ziegler We will miss you dearly Jid. We love you for who you are and who you helped us all to be. No better man could God have ever put on this earth than you. We will go on only by knowing that you are where you wanted to be....resting and at peace with the Lord. Friends may call at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Road, Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. where funeral services will follow at 12:30 p.m. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery Article published Saturday, December 20, 2008 LOUIS A. ABRASS,1921-2008 North Toledo grocer had secret kielbasa recipe Louis A. Abrass, who with his wife, Genevieve, owned and ran a North Toledo grocery and variety market for decades, died Wednesday in his Waterville home from complications of congestive heart failure at age 87. He and his wife sold Variety Market at Elm and Austin Streets in the 1980s and retired. Christmas was one of the market's busy seasons, with family members cranking out thousands of pounds of kielbasa, using a secret recipe Mr. Abrass perfected based on advice from his Polish-American clientele. The store had a meat counter and sold groceries. It also sold appliances, toys, some clothing, and, at one time, was the leading beer outlet in Toledo, his son Mark Abrass said. "It was a stronghold for that neighborhood. He employed thousands of kids and people for many years," his son said. "He was always fair and honest. I watched him follow customers down the street to make sure they were happy," his son said. "I watched him, if people had no money, he'd give them things. He was a big part of the community." He hired the employees and ordered the goods. His wife kept the books. They worked together to run the store. "He said he was the luckiest man in the world because he could work with his family," his son said. The store expanded four times. Louis Abrass was a senior at Macomber High School when he started the business as Mary-Lou's, an ice cream parlor in partnership with his sister, Mary. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. Color-blindness kept him from becoming a pilot. His specialty at Macomber was electronics, and that's what he taught pilots at what is now the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton. He made 16-millimeter movies of store and family events that were known for their tight direction and visual effects. He was the first president of the Kappa Chi fraternity, a group of Lebanese-American and Syrian-American men who met regularly beginning in 1938. They continued to meet until the last year or so, his wife said. Surviving are his wife, Genevieve, whom he married July 7, 1942; sons, Gary and Mark Abrass; daughters, Karen Schultz and Beth Hummer, and 11 grandchildren. Services will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Coyle Funeral Home, where the body will be after 10:30 a.m. The family suggests tributes to the Salvation Army or the Cherry Street Mission.

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Louis Albert Abrams

July 29, 1929 - December 17, 2008