Louis J. Varro, 97, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, at his home.

He was born Jan. 24, 1917, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Mike and Julia Kiss Varro. He married Isabelle Yvonne Howard Nov. 23, 1957, in Los Angeles. They were married 41 years prior to her death in 1998.

As a young adult during the Great Depression, he worked a number of temporary jobs to make ends meet, and in 1937 he attended Calgary Institute of Technology and Art. In 1940 he moved to Los Angeles.

In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Following basic training in St. Petersburg, Florida, he was assigned training of B24 crews for overseas bombing missions.

After his honorable discharge and having served in the United States military, he was allowed to obtain his U.S. citizenship. He then attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Los Angeles, and later began his career as a draftsman in the aerospace industry.

Following his marriage to Isabelle and the birth of their two children, Stevan and Stephanie, they moved first to Nevada and then to Missouri. They were active in the ministry of his missionary brother Rev. Michael Varro in Taiwan and traveled in the Far East. After retirement he became involved with the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, which displayed many of his works. He and Isabelle were also active in the First Church of the Nazarene of Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include a son, Jonathan Stevan Varro of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Stephanie (Matthew) Clover of Wolf Lake, Illinois; a nephew, the Rev. Dr. Frank (Margo) Varro of Houston; a brother, Joe (Josie) Varro of Vancouver, B.C., Canada; a sister, Margaret Varro (Glen) Wood of Regina; grandchildren; nephews; nieces; and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, four brothers and a sister.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the chapel, with the Rev. Dr. Frank Varro officiating. Entombment will be in Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions may be given to the charity of choice.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.