Louis John "Lou" Marchello

Lou Marchello (78), passed away on April 19, 2022 at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, WA. Lou was born on July 9, 1943, to Aldo and Caterina (DeLaurenti) Marchello in Billings, Montana. He was raised in Red Lodge, Montana where the Marchello family ran a grocery/butcher shop together and later his parents branched off to buy the IGA store in Red Lodge.

He grew up helping out with the daily chores of running a grocery business as well as helping out with his uncles in the butcher shop. He also helped out on his uncle’s ranch in Columbus. Fishing and hunting was a natural pastime during his growing up years.

While attending high school, Lou was a natural athlete and excelled in football and that enthusiasm for the sport carried through his adult life. He received his BA diploma from Montana State in Bozeman, Montana. He married a classmate, Denise Morgan, in 1965 and together they had three children. Timothy (Michelle) Marchello, Kenmore, WA; Dana Marchello (Angel Nunez), Randolph, MA; Suzie (Scott) Brown, Seaside, OR.
He went to work for FW Woolworth after graduating and was transferred to Billings and Colorado. In 1972 an opportunity opened up to purchase Don’s Variety Store on Main Street in Polson. In 1982 he purchased an empty lot across the street and built the Main Mast Emporium which housed The Crow’s Nest Gallery until it closed in February of 2022 after 50 years.

In 1989 Lou met Irene Aguirre in Red Lodge while she was visiting with a friend who grew up in Red Lodge. She was born and raised in Oakland, California. He invited her to visit him in Polson and a long-distance romance began! They subsequently married in Berkeley, California on April 1, 1990 and Irene moved to Polson with him.

Lou was an active member of the community. He was actively involved with the racket ball court, a co-owner in the Port Polson Princess and gave Flathead Lake tours while the boat was active. He was a member of the Jaycees, a lifetime member of the Elks, was also a longtime member of Polson Kiwanis, involved with Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever and continued to donate artwork for their fund raisers. He was a member and served on the Board of the Polson Chamber of Commerce and the Polson Business Community. He was a City Commissioner for 14 years which ended in January of this year. He also served a term as Mayor and sat on the Polson Redevelopment Board. He was on the Board for the Animal Shelter and involved in the Polson Greater Community Foundation.

He was preceded in death by his parents of Red Lodge. He is survived by his wife, Irene, three children, six grandchildren, sister Janice (Virgil) Gillespie of Fairbanks, Alaska and several nieces and nephews.

He was a driving force in the community and a familiar face for 50 years.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church at 10:30 on Monday, May 9, 2022.