Richard E. Liebetrau Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Richard E. Liebetrau of Cadillac passed away at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac on April 12, 2011. He was 80 years old. Dick was born on April 3, 1931 in Niles, MI to Ernest and Gladys Ailleen (Powell) Liebetrau. He married Delores M. King Aug. 16, 1952 in Detroit. They had been married for 47 years at the time of her death on March 30, 1998. He attended Michigan State University and began his career with Cupples Aluminum in St. Louis in 1952. He continued his career as a design engineer when he moved to Cadillac in 1973 with Tubelite. He started his own company, Alu-Fab Corporation, in 1980, and sold it to Gordon Industries in 1993. Even after his retirement in 1998, he continued to work as a consultant for GE and for Peacock Industries until the time of his death. He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Cadillac. Dick was an avid sportsman, hunter and fishing enthusiast who loved spending time on the water. He was a huge sports fan, and especially enjoyed his Detroit Red Wings. On January 7, 2004 in Cadillac, he married Ching Yun Chen. They enjoyed 7 wonderful years of marriage and spent many hours together on the ski slopes and in the casino. Survivors include his wife, Ching; his children, Mark (Nancy) Liebetrau of Erie, Co., Tom (Nora) Liebetrau of Galesburg, IL. Jim (Kriss) Liebetrau of Woodstock, IL. Sheri (Kelly) Leach of Buckley, MI, Kurt (Collina) Liebetrau of Holly Hill, FL and Karl (Lynne) Liebetrau of Cadillac; 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Gladys Liebetrau,; his brother, Bill Liebetrau and his grandson, Kevin Leach. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at St. Ann Catholic Church, Cadillac, with Reverend Fr. Edwin A. Thome as celebrant. Burial will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Cadillac. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 and at 6:30 p.m. a prayer service will be held at Peterson Funeral Home, Cadillac. In lieu of flowers memorial contribution can be made in his name to the American Cancer Society. An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com

Richard E. Liebetrau

April 3, 1931 - April 12, 2011