Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Robert P. De Leu

Feb. 12, 1931 - May 19, 2001

 

South Bend Tribune 5/24/2001

Robert P. De Leu, 70, of South Bend, Ind., passed away at 9:05 a.m. Saturday, May 19, in Hospice House, South Bend. He was born Feb. 12, 1931, to the late Julius and Bertha (Van Acker) De Leu in Mishawaka, Ind., and had been an area resident most of his life, with the exception of living in Greenville, S.C., for 15 years. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela De Leu; a son, Robert F. De Leu; and by a brother, Frederic De Leu. Mr. De Leu retired in 1996 as a mechanical engineer for Dodge Manufacturing-Rockwell Interna-tional, after 35 years of service.

 

On Nov. 30, 1974, he married Barbara L. (Walters) De Leu in Niles, Mich. She survives. He is also survived by three daughters, Janice Hildabridle of South Bend, Rebecca (William) Sullivan of Columbus, Ohio, and Jennifer De Leu of Toledo, Ohio; five sons, Douglas De Leu of South Bend, John (Tami) De Leu of South Bend, James De Leu of South Bend, Phillip (Denise) De Leu of Mishawaka and Matthew (Jennifer) De Leu of South Bend; one daughter-in-law, Sherry (De Leu) Bunch of South Bend; 12 grandchildren, Michael Imus, Jillian Hildabridle, Frances Sullivan, Will Sullivan, Nicole De Leu, Tim De Leu, Kayla De Leu, Brittany De Leu, Nathan De Leu, Nicholas De Leu, Shenna De Leu and Robert De Leu; three great-grandchildren, Shanell De Leu, Adora De Leu and Bobbie De Leu; and by a sister, Nancy Spircoff of Chicago, Ill.

 

Mr. De Leu attended grade school at St. Joseph Catholic in South Bend, attended Central Catholic Church School, and was a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War, where he served on the U.S.S. Philippine Sea from February 1952 until December 1953. Bob was a gentle, quiet, humble man who quickly won the heart of his wife, and was admired and loved by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. His smile captured all and broke through any circumstances in life: sorrow, suffering and death. After family, golf was his next love, along with "his Purdue Boilermakers." Bob mastered many achievements without fanfare and in his 35 years of devoted employment he designed five patents that were accepted by his company. He traveled the world and his smile and gentleness again captured all, especially those in need from India to Thailand, Singapore, Jamaica and Spain. His parting leaves a void for those of us who love him, but the world has changed for the better because of him. "My son, conduct your life with humility and you will be more loved than a giver of gifts. The more humble, the greater you are and the more favored by God"

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, in Little Flower Catholic Church, with Rev. Daryl Rybicki officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, where Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 360 will conduct military services. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today, May 22, in the KANIEWSKI FUNERAL HOME, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, where a Rosary will be prayed at 4:30 p.m. The family requests that donations be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637-3437; or to the "Robert P. De Leu Scholarship Fund" to benefit engineering students in financial need at Purdue University. Checks made payable to "Purdue Foundation," and mailed to 3819 Rockpointe Drive, Columbus, OH 43221.