Louis Kubai
January 22, 1930 - November 19, 2024
Obituary
FITCHBURG - Louis Kubai, age 94, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family in his Fitchburg, Wisconsin home on November 19, 2024. Louis was born in Mako, Hungary on January 22, 1930, and immigrated to the United States in 1952. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1963. Louis worked as a developmental biology, immunology, and cancer researcher at UW-Madison in the Zoology Department (Dr. Robert Auerbach’s laboratory) from 1963 until 1999. He was granted Emeritus status through the College of Letters and Science at the university for his dedicated years of service.
Lou always wanted a family, and the missing pieces began to click into place when he met his soul mate, Carol Landahl, in 1969. They wed December 21, 1974, at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago, Ill. Their two adored and adoring children, Andrew and Melissa, arrived in 1978 and 1980, completing the family picture.
Louis was a man who knew who he was, and his actions spoke louder than his words. He was a big kid at heart, who greeted his loved ones with a smile and a hug (our Hungarian hug bug). As a young man, he participated in Hungarian and Russian folk dance groups and played soccer. He excelled at card games of all sorts. Lou also enjoyed hosting lab picnics, and he bowled for decades in a university league, where he often joked with teammates “Nobody misses the 5 pin.” As an active member of Luther Memorial church in Madison, he assisted in worship and provided service wherever he was needed.
A steward of the earth, he cultivated numerous gardens and provided a haven for wildlife. He cherished lake time with family and friends at the cottage in Northern Minnesota, where he partook in numerous outdoor activities including sailing, windsurfing, fishing, water skiing, biking, swimming, and canoeing.
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Carol Landahl, and their two children,
Andrew Kubai and Melissa Kubai; brother-in-law, Carl David Landahl (wife Virginia Landahl), nephew, Eric Landahl (wife Sarah Rice), nephew, Paul Landahl (wife Anaya Mitra, grandnephews Avinash, and Vikram) and niece, Karen Landahl (husband Steven Cauley, grandnieces Annelise, Linnea and Norah); sister-in-law, Linda (Landahl) Shidner (husband Arthur Shidner), nephews Kevin Shidner and Stephen Shidner. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oszkar and Ilona Kubai; his sister, Helen (Kubai) Csaba; brother-in-law, Gabriel Csaba and his nephew, Peter Csaba.
A private funeral service for the immediate family was held at home, with Pastor John Worzala-Dumke of Luther Memorial Church officiating. Committal and celebration of life services will be held in the future.
His family is deeply grateful to Agrace HospiceCare for their compassion and exceptional care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the following: Luther Memorial Church, UW College of Letters and Science, Lutheran World Relief, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin, NRDC, or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002