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.