Obituary for Gabriel Levinus "Gabe" De Cloet
De Cloet, Gabriel Levinus (February 25, 1941 – March 28, 2022)
“Gabe” Gabriel Levinus De Cloet of Tillsonburg passed away peacefully, surrounded by love of his family and welcomed home by his beloved wife Virginia (May 25, 2004) and daughter Antonel, on Monday, March 28th, 2022, at the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital in his 82nd year. Born in Aarsele, Belgium “Gabe”, his brother Dan and his father Omer De Cloet emigrated from Belgium to Canada in June 1953 to a new start in life. After the three De Cloets worked very hard as farm field labourers in the Langton area they eventually saved enough to bring over (to Canada) the mother Maria and the young siblings: John, Paul, Alphonse, Luke, Ben, Mary and Rita. All the De Cloets continued to work very hard, to learn the language and establish a basic existence until later when they were able to progress to tobacco share-growing and eventually tobacco farm ownership. Much later some of the De Cloet’s “Gabe”, Dan and Ben chose to use their varied skills to design innovative tobacco equipment specially manufactured and distributed tobacco industry wide throughout North America. They focused their emphasis on new to the market tying machines, innovative tobacco kilns and priming machines all to help the farmer find efficiencies and better quality processing of the tobacco when it was harvested and thereafter when it was later cured. They incorporated new designs and new features into these as they received patents for their workmanship and innovations. Gabe had an immense love for his family. Gabe and Virginia decided that they wanted a large family and chose to adopt six beautiful children. They both were incredibly proud of all their children and grandchildren. The late Antonel Angela Graham (September 6, 2020) who is survived by her husband Greg and their two children: Garrett and Gabriella, Waterloo; John (“Scott”) De Cloet and children Tyson, Maja and Sean, Ingersoll; Steven De Cloet and children Emerald, Max, Dean, Tillsonburg; Melissa (“M.J.”) and Rick Noble, Fort Erie; Michael (“Adam”) De Cloet and Ginny and their children: Madeline and Roman, Milton; Sarah Jane Seitz and Jeremy and their children: Jordan, Kade, Riley, Tillsonburg. Survived by his brothers and sisters: Dan (late Simone) (August 14, 2015), London; sister-in-law Mary De Cloet (late John) (June 2, 2014), Langton; Paul De Cloet and Josiane, Tillsonburg; Alphonse De Cloet, Brantford; sister-in-law Hilda (late Luke De Cloet) (May 29, 2007), Tillsonburg; Ben De Cloet (Brenda), Booth’s Harbour; Mary McElhone, Langton and brother-in-law Pat (Fran) McElhone (late Rita) (September 21, 2008), Simcoe; and nieces, nephews and cousins in Belgium. Gabe had a great passion for a healthy lifestyle that included a fondness for yoga and daily nature walks that brought him a spiritual feeling of oneness with nature. Gabe had a pride in our community of the Tri-County Tobacco District and a real, abiding love for its people. Gabe always looked on the bright side of everything, he always saw the good in people and in times of trial he was always there to help others in need.
To view a memorial video of the Knights of Columbus Prayer Service, Funeral Mass and Slideshow, please copy and paste the below link into your internet browser bar:
https://youtu.be/eAgLtIYvqp8
Friends, neighbours and relatives are invited to meet with the family on Friday, April 1st, 2022, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes – Burial and Cremation Services Inc., Chapel, 262 Broadway Street, Tillsonburg (519) 842-4238. St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus Council #3212 Prayers will take place on Friday evening at 5:45 pm in the chapel. Public Complete Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated on Saturday, April 2nd, 2022, at 10:00 am in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 51 Venison Street West, Tillsonburg, by his nephew Rev. Fr. Jonathan McElhone TOR of Steubenville, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, the family would sincerely appreciate online donations to “Plan International Canada” on the “plancanada.ca” website. This charity focuses on helping children, families and communities in need. KofC will form an Honour Guard at the Church to honour the memory of their brother Gabe. Gabe will be later laid to rest beside his loved wife Virginia. All who knew Gabriel are invited to share fond memories, favourite photos online on Gabriel’s tribute page at www.verhoevefuneralhomes.com. All arrangements have been entrusted, with confidence, to the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes – Burial and Cremation Services Inc., Tillsonburg.
“Gabe” Gabriel Levinus De Cloet of Tillsonburg passed away peacefully, surrounded by love of his family and welcomed home by his beloved wife Virginia (May 25, 2004) and daughter Antonel, on Monday, March 28th, 2022, at the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital in his 82nd year. Born in Aarsele, Belgium “Gabe”, his brother Dan and his father Omer De Cloet emigrated from Belgium to Canada in June 1953 to a new start in life. After the three De Cloets worked very hard as farm field labourers in the Langton area they eventually saved enough to bring over (to Canada) the mother Maria and the young siblings: John, Paul, Alphonse, Luke, Ben, Mary and Rita. All the De Cloets continued to work very hard, to learn the language and establish a basic existence until later when they were able to progress to tobacco share-growing and eventually tobacco farm ownership. Much later some of the De Cloet’s “Gabe”, Dan and Ben chose to use their varied skills to design innovative tobacco equipment specially manufactured and distributed tobacco industry wide throughout North America. They focused their emphasis on new to the market tying machines, innovative tobacco kilns and priming machines all to help the farmer find efficiencies and better quality processing of the tobacco when it was harvested and thereafter when it was later cured. They incorporated new designs and new features into these as they received patents for their workmanship and innovations. Gabe had an immense love for his family. Gabe and Virginia decided that they wanted a large family and chose to adopt six beautiful children. They both were incredibly proud of all their children and grandchildren. The late Antonel Angela Graham (September 6, 2020) who is survived by her husband Greg and their two children: Garrett and Gabriella, Waterloo; John (“Scott”) De Cloet and children Tyson, Maja and Sean, Ingersoll; Steven De Cloet and children Emerald, Max, Dean, Tillsonburg; Melissa (“M.J.”) and Rick Noble, Fort Erie; Michael (“Adam”) De Cloet and Ginny and their children: Madeline and Roman, Milton; Sarah Jane Seitz and Jeremy and their children: Jordan, Kade, Riley, Tillsonburg. Survived by his brothers and sisters: Dan (late Simone) (August 14, 2015), London; sister-in-law Mary De Cloet (late John) (June 2, 2014), Langton; Paul De Cloet and Josiane, Tillsonburg; Alphonse De Cloet, Brantford; sister-in-law Hilda (late Luke De Cloet) (May 29, 2007), Tillsonburg; Ben De Cloet (Brenda), Booth’s Harbour; Mary McElhone, Langton and brother-in-law Pat (Fran) McElhone (late Rita) (September 21, 2008), Simcoe; and nieces, nephews and cousins in Belgium. Gabe had a great passion for a healthy lifestyle that included a fondness for yoga and daily nature walks that brought him a spiritual feeling of oneness with nature. Gabe had a pride in our community of the Tri-County Tobacco District and a real, abiding love for its people. Gabe always looked on the bright side of everything, he always saw the good in people and in times of trial he was always there to help others in need.
To view a memorial video of the Knights of Columbus Prayer Service, Funeral Mass and Slideshow, please copy and paste the below link into your internet browser bar:
https://youtu.be/eAgLtIYvqp8
Friends, neighbours and relatives are invited to meet with the family on Friday, April 1st, 2022, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes – Burial and Cremation Services Inc., Chapel, 262 Broadway Street, Tillsonburg (519) 842-4238. St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus Council #3212 Prayers will take place on Friday evening at 5:45 pm in the chapel. Public Complete Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated on Saturday, April 2nd, 2022, at 10:00 am in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 51 Venison Street West, Tillsonburg, by his nephew Rev. Fr. Jonathan McElhone TOR of Steubenville, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, the family would sincerely appreciate online donations to “Plan International Canada” on the “plancanada.ca” website. This charity focuses on helping children, families and communities in need. KofC will form an Honour Guard at the Church to honour the memory of their brother Gabe. Gabe will be later laid to rest beside his loved wife Virginia. All who knew Gabriel are invited to share fond memories, favourite photos online on Gabriel’s tribute page at www.verhoevefuneralhomes.com. All arrangements have been entrusted, with confidence, to the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes – Burial and Cremation Services Inc., Tillsonburg.