Obituary: Raymond M. Leliaert Sr.

Sept. 17, 1921 - April 14, 2003

Raymond M. Leliaert Sr., 81, of Garwood Circle, South Bend, Ind., died after an illness at 3:45 p.m. Monday, April 14, in his home.

Mr. Leliaert was born Sept. 17, 1921, in Grinnell, Iowa, to Martha (VanDenBossche) and Gustave Leliaert. He lived in South Bend his entire life. Mr. Leliaert was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert and James; and by a great-grandson, Samuel Van Meter.

On March 10, 1945, in South Bend, he married Lois M. Zubler, who survives. Mr. Leliaert is also survived by six daughters, Karen J. (Thomas) Van Meter of South Bend, Mary M. Rader of Mishawaka, Diane E. Webster of Huntsville, Ala., Martha J. (Thomas) Daufenbach of Portage, Mich., Judy L. (John) Kenney of South Bend and Barbara M. (Joseph) Echard of South Bend; three sons, Raymond M. Jr. (Diane) of South Bend, Mark A. (Mindy) of Salinas, Calif., and Christopher J. (Judy) of Schererville, Ind.; 27 grandchildren, Andrew Leliaert, Emily Leliaert, Susan Leliaert, Kyle Leliaert, Joseph Leliaert, Kregg (Julie) Van Meter, Colleen (Abraham) Toul, Michelle (Leonardo) Sanchez, Ashley (Kathleen) Rader, Melanie (Willie) Mitchell, Patrick Rader, Sara Webster, Elise Webster, Matthew Daufenbach, Janel Daufenbach, Larry Daufenbach, Meredith Daufenbach, John Daufenbach, Cameron Leliaert, Lindsey Leliaert, Kelsey Leliaert, Michael Kenney, Alex Kenney, Katie Kenney, Timothy Kenney, Mark Echard and Rose Echard; and by eight great-grandchildren, Kayla Toul, John Van Meter, John Day, Noah Mitchell, Nicholas Mitchell, Austin Rader, Bailey Rader and Christian Rader.

Mr. Leliaert was an exemplary tenor, a distinguished inventor, a lifelong community volunteer and, of course, a loving and much-beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. He taught his family and friends to understand the world in scientific, practical and spiritual ways.

He apprenticed in the family's commercial painting business before enlisting in the Navy at the start of World War II. As an aviation mechanic at Glenview Naval Air Station near Chicago, he was nominated for officer training. Mr. Leliaert was assigned to midshipman school (V-12 program) at the University of Notre Dame in his hometown. After earning his commission, he served on the aircraft carrier USS Windham Bay, participating in the liberation of the Philippines. During midshipman school, he met Lois Zubler during a USO dance at the Palais Royale. They were married shortly before he departed to the Pacific Theater. During this time, his boyhood training as a tenor earned him widespread recognition while he sang with the Notre Dame Glee Club, the United States Navy Band and at weddings and social events. At the end of the war, Mr. Leliaert set aside his promising singing career to complete an engineering degree at Notre Dame. Wheelabrator Corp., where he had worked briefly before the war, provided him with a nightshift job in the Mishawaka plant. He attended Notre Dame during the day, graduating in 1949 at the top of the School of Engineering class, while working full-time at night.

As a full-fledged engineer at Wheelabrator, he became a problem-solver and soon began developing innovative techniques in the foundry industry and related businesses. His role as a lone researcher grew over the next three decades into an industry-leading Research and Development Department with a staff of engineers and technicians and, eventually, a separate building at the Wheelabrator complex in Mishawaka. He was known affectionately among his co-workers as "Dr. Leliaert" because of his incredible knowledge in the metal-cleaning industry. His more than 40 patents in highly technical fields involving metal, plastic and rubber cleaning and in air pollution control have resulted in higher-quality, more reliable products ranging from automobile engines and kitchen faucets and a cleaner, safer environment. The American Foundrymen Society, one of the many industry associations in which he was an active participant, recognized Mr. Leliaert's 44 years of achievement with its highest honor, the Award for Scientific Achievement. During his career, the Notre Dame School of Engineering frequently called him back to lecture succeeding generations of engineers.

Mr. Leliaert's other memberships included the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, the Wheelabrator Retirees Club, the American Legion, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Metals, the American Ceramics Society, the Shot Peening Society, the Boy Scouts of America, the St. Vincent dePaul Society, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and Little Flower Catholic Church.

Mr. Leliaert's innovative spirit extended to the world around him. He volunteered with numerous organizations, giving generously of his time but always shunning personal recognition. Some of these activities included the school boards of St. John the Baptist and Holy Cross Schools, the St. John the Baptist Parish Council, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, where he was selected volunteer of the year several times even when declining health limited his mobility. His commitment to his community was a trait that he taught through example and praise to his children and grandchildren. He also strived to solve problems in unexpected ways. When Wheelabrator struggled in the 1960s to come to grips with the civil rights movement, Mr. Leliaert quietly and effectively became the behind-the-scenes conscience for a corporation whose executives created opportunities for all employees. Stricken with Parkinson's disease for more than a decade, he confidently tried to do what so many scientists could not - figure out the ailment he insisted was "invented by the Devil" so that others might be cured.

Mr. Leliaert's guidance to his ever-growing family continued into his final days. As his long struggle with debilitating illness eroded his body and mind, his spirit endured as his children and grandchildren returned home to pray, sing and recollect the countless joys of a family nurtured by his patient, always wise guidance. For nearly a week, he continued to teach us that a life lived so well is only one step toward a joyful eternity.

Services for Mr. Leliaert will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Little Flower Catholic Church. Friends may call after 9 a.m. today in the church. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery.

The Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County or to the Christ Child Society.