LOUIS CARIC

May 6, 1945 – May 8, 2023

Louis Caric of Huntington Beach, California passed away peacefully at his home on May 8, 2023 two days after his 78th birthday. He was surrounded by his family in his final moments and days.

Louis was born to Steve and Stanka Caric on May 6, 1945 in Bakersfield, CA. He graduated from Delano High School in 1963 and then attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI where he received his business degree in 1967. He then moved to Los Angeles where he received his MBA in finance from UCLA in 1969. In 1975, he and his wife Kathy moved back to Delano from Golden, CO to help his dad run the family farm, Louis Caric & Sons. Louis retired in 2016 and moved to Huntington Beach.

“Big Louie” was a tremendous father, grandpa and friend. He was loved by all who were lucky enough to know him and was the life of every party. A proud Croatian Central Valley table grape farmer, he could be found every fall Saturday at the Rose Bowl watching his Bruins, wherever his kids or grandkids had any event, and every other night with a VO in his hand watching a game and reading his newspaper, or making his Croatian pasta sauce and playing gin with his friends at the Slav Club. Cancer tried to take him for nearly two years, but he outlived every prognosis and was a fighter until the end.

He is survived by his children Tracee Schultz (James), Stephen Caric (Natalie) and Louis Caric (Darienne); his grandchildren Lily Schultz, Fiona Schultz, Louis Colton Caric, Caydence Caric and Quinn Caric; his former wife and partner until the end Kathy Caric; and his sister Antoinette Chroman (Larry).

This world, and especially his family, will miss him dearly, but wherever he is now is lucky to have him.

A celebration of his life will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary in Bakersfield (9101 Kern Canyon Rd.) on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10 a.m. A reception will follow immediately at his beloved Slav Club in Delano (148 County Line Rd.). In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in his name to Stand Up to Cancer.

Wherever you are, please raise a glass to Louis!