Obituary of Charles Joseph Lievrouw

Charles J. “Chuck” Lievrouw died peacefully Saturday afternoon, October 6, 2018.Charles Lievrouw was born on May 30, 1929. He grew up in Osage, Iowa, a small farming town near the Minnesota border, among a community with many northern European immigrants. His parents Adiel (Dell) Benjamin Lievrouw and Bertha Arickx (pronounced Air-ricks) Lievrouw both arrived as children from Belgium at the time of World War I. Chuck was one of eight siblings, four of whom survive him (Mary Lee “Tootie” Lievrouw Galey, Dorothy “Dort” Lievrouw Robertson, Irma Jean Lievrouw Johnson, and Richard “Rick” Allen Lievrouw) and three are deceased (Walter Lievrouw, Rose Lievrouw Ostrander, and Dale Lievrouw).A talented visual artist from a young age, Chuck attended local schools and graduated from Osage High School in 1947. He received a scholarship to attend the Catholic institution Loras College, and later transferred to the University of Iowa with a scholarship in art. His studies were interrupted by the Korean War, and he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951. He began service as a jet fighter crew chief and mechanic, but successfully applied for pilot training and relocated to Moultrie, Georgia, where he met and married Eloise Bennett. Chuck eventually piloted a variety of aircraft for the Strategic Air Command, including strategic bombers, tactical bombers, and refueling aircraft. He resigned from the Air Force in 1959, though he continued in the Air Force Reserve for several years.After leaving the Air Force, Chuck worked in the military aircraft services industry, including posts with Hays Aircraft in Birmingham, Alabama; the AirMod Company in Dover, Delaware and Vacaville, California; and Cook Electric Company in Rome, New York. In 1963 he joined Dynalectron Corporation (now DynCorp) in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The frequent moves for the growing Lievrouw family ended in 1965 when he was promoted to senior management at Dynalectron’s Aerospace Division headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. He served in various capacities for DynCorp, rising to become President of Aerospace Division, which was his position when he retired in 1991.His hobbies and interests included golf, and rebuilding and restoring cars (and a boat or two), doing the engine rebuilding and body work himself. He also designed and built a weekend house on Lake Granbury for his family. He brought his visualization and artistic rendering talent to these projects as well as doing occasional drawings and watercolors – and of course, the original designs for the Holy Family Church Eucharistic Chapel, commissioned by former Holy Family pastor Monsignor Vincent Wolf. The Lievrouw family became active members of Holy Family when they moved to Fort Worth in 1965; Eloise Lievrouw was very active in parish CCD and youth music programs, and Monsignor Wolf named the Lievrouws as the parish’s Family of the Year in the early 1970s (need to check date). (As an interesting aside, Chuck’s office at the DynCorp building across the highway provided a panoramic view of northwest Fort Worth that included Holy Family Church.) Chuck’s design for the Chapel included the space itself as well as its striking focal point, a suspended bronze Tabernacle adapted from Old Testament descriptions of the Ark of the Covenant, executed in a sophisticated contemporary style that complemented the original architecture, glass and artwork in the main sanctuary. The Eucharistic Chapel was completed in 1975.Although he endured a number of health problems in the years after retirement, he never lost his sharp sense of humor and ability to observe small, funny (even absurd) details about the world and the people in it. His family and friends will remember his enormous and multi-faceted talent, his care for the people he worked with, and his pride in his family.The family wishes to thank our caring efficient friend and caregiver, Orlena O. Samaniego, for six years with Chuck at home and 3 1/2 years at Stonegate Nursing Center.They also wish to thank the wonderful CNAs and others who served Chuck so well; there were many, including Delvin Tarrant, Claudia Williams, Lovee Osman, Maria Ortez, Kenyell Childress, Diana Huckabe; Med aides Bridget Wright and Diane Carter; also nurses Celeste, Kimberly DeRossett LVN, John Osmar LVN, Lupe and Ezmerelda. Thanks also to such a terrific sitter, Maria Williams. Chuck also appreciated Miss Cleo (laundry), Connie and Brandi and the lady cooks.Dr. Robert Kelly cared for Chuck while at Stonegate and Dr. Vijay Kalaria, who cared for his heart.Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Walter Lievrouw and Dale Lievrouw and sister Rose Lievrouw Ostrander.Chuck is survived by his wife of 66 years, Eloise; children, Leah Ann Lievrouw (Dan Danzig), Charles Damian Lievrouw, David Wesley Lievrouw, Donald Joseph Lievrouw (Ann), Lynn Marie Lievrouw Deyo (Ronnie); grandchildren, Joseph Dell Lievrouw, Leah Grace Lievrouw, Ronald Cooper Deyo and William Walker Deyo.