Richard James DeBlieck, 84, of 1709 Gastel Circle, Mission Texas. This courageously persistent man of immense generosity and faith was born on September 11, 1936, and died Sunday, September 27, 2020, at his home. A son of Belgian immigrants, Harry, and Margaret (Beeusaert) DeBlieck, he and his sister Sister Margaret Rose (Patricia) grew up on a farm in Murray County, Shetek Township. He graduated from Tracy Area High School in 1954; he was named a member of the National FFA Band.
He graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 1960, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Administration. He was part of the ROTC program at Iowa State. He served in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, on active duty in artillery and in military police reserves. After completing his military service, he worked in finance at General Electric. During the 1970’s he worked in Europe, including four years at G.E. projects in Madrid, Spain, and Frankfurt, Munich, Germany, and two years in Istanbul, Turkey. In the USA, he worked for G.E. in Cincinnati, Ohio, Schenectady, New York, Wayne, Indiana, and Irvine, California. His final assignment was in El Paso, Texas, where he worked at the G.E. plant in Juarez, Mexico. He retired from G.E. in 1997 and moved to Mission, Texas, his current residence.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Margaret “Sister” Patricia. He is survived by an uncle, Norman DeBlieck; aunt, Patricia DeBlieck; goddaughter, Conni DeBlieck; numerous cousins; and many devoted friends.
The visitation and remembrance will be held at 11 on December 4, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Tracy. Burial is in Tracy Cemetery in Tracy. The following link is provided by Conni DeBlieck inviting you to a scheduled Zoom Meeting https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/7566534370 Meeting ID: 756 653 4370.
In lieu of flowers or memorial, Richard’s donation of choice is Gonzaga University. He established an endowed scholarship, the Memorial Sisters of St. Joseph Ministries Foundation. Sister Patricia, rest in love and peace; 1884 Randolph Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55105; 651-690-7026; website: https://csjministriesfoundation.org/donate/, Saint Paul, MN, 55105; 651-690-7026; website: https://csjministriesfoundation.org/donate/, and MD Anderson cancer Center at Texas State University for cancer research.