Julian J. Vandecaveye

Resided in Perkins, MI
Died May 20, 2020

Julian J. Vandecaveye, age 89, passed away at his home in Perkins, Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

Julian was born August 14, 1930, in St. Nicholas, the son of Jerome and Lucy (DeWilde) Vandecaveye, Belgian immigrants in 1912 and 1920 respectively. The fourth child in a family of eight. He was raised on his Parents’ St. Nicholas farm. He attended Perkins elementary school and graduated from Perkins High School class of 1948 as Salutatorian of his class. While attending high school, Julian participated in various high school sports, especially basketball.

In January of 1950 Julian received a scholarship to attend Michigan State College for a short course in Agriculture. In July of 1951, during the Korean War, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. After basic training, he was assigned to take an aircraft and engine technician course at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. Following that he took a jet engine specialist course at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL. He later completed his enlistment at Williams Air Force in Chandler, AZ, Great Falls Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, and Ellsworth Air Force Base he had a TDA at General Electric jet engine factory school. In July of 1955 he was honorably discharged.

In the fall of 1955 Julian enrolled as a student at Northern Michigan College. He majored in Mathematics and Chemistry, and minored in Physics. He received his Bachelor’s Degree and teaching certificate in 1959. In the fall of 1960 he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for advanced courses in Mathematics.

In the fall of 1962 Julian began his teaching career at Perkins High School, his Alma Mater. In addition to teaching, he also served as principal, coach, and athletic director for many years. He was very active in the sports leagues in which the school was affiliated with. He served as a scheduler, statistician, and secretary for many years. Julian also served as clerk of the course for many track and field meets throughout the years. He also enthusiastically supported the growth of girls sports in the 1970’s, especially basketball and track and field.

In August of 1984 Julian was united in marriage to Wyoma “Honey” Hughey-Livingston at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins. Julian retired from Mid Peninsula High School as a teacher and athletic director in June 1993. Following his retirement, he became active in township government, serving on the zoning board, board of review, and clerk for many years. He also served as a member of the Delta County planning commision for several years.

He was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins where he was greatly involved.

In addition to his loving wife Honey, he is survived by:
3 Sons: Michael Vandecaveye of Gladstone, MI
Robert (Carmen) Livingston-Clark of Gwinn, MI
Garth (Julie) Livingston-McLead of Pocahontas, TN
1 Brother: Joseph Vandecaveye of Fremont, CA
5 Grandchildren
1 Great Grandchildren
And numerous Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins

In addition to his Parents, Julian was preceded in death by:
Daughter: Karman Paulus
5 Sisters: Mary Gabriel, Margaret Jodocy, Marcella Maki, Christine VanDamme, and Martha Latos.
And 1 Brother: James Vandecaveye

Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 1:00 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Perkins. Officiating will be Rev. Fr. Joseph Augustine and Rev. Fr. Emmett Norden concelebrating. Burial will follow at the Perkins Cemetery where military honors will be presented. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be directed to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Parking Lot fund. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Vandecaveye family.

24 Tributes for “Julian J. Vandecaveye

    Julian was a true pillar of our community. He touched many lives. He was involved in our School, American Legion, Lions Club, Township Board and St Joes Church. He was my teacher, coach, mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed by all I am sure. My condolences to Honey, Mike and the rest of his family. RIP

    So very saddened by this news! What a gentle loving and caring Individual he was! It was his time to go and the folks on the other side will be blessed to have him in their company forever! RIP dear friend and may God Bless you through all eternity!

    To Honey and the Vandeceveye Family,
    So sorry to here about Julian. I am blessed to have been able to get to know Julian and the other St. Joseph parishioners when I would sub as organist. Julian would come to Mass with Honey before choir practice. I heard from my mom, Berta (Sinnaeve) Maki that Julian was very active at St Joseph church in Perkins – helping out all the time. My mom (Berta) and all the Cyriel & Margaretta Sinnaeve Family will miss Julian. “Honey” we will be praying for you & the family!

    I’m so sorry to hear this about a great man. I’ll miss him at Church. My deepest condolences to Honey and 5he rest of the family.
    May he rest in the peace of the Lord.
    Go Bless you all

    I am truly sorry to hear about Mr Vandecaveye’s passing. He was an excellent teacher, one whom I had tremendous respect for and the only one to ever send me to the principal’s office 🙂 It was deserved as myself and another student were celebrating as we did well on a test and the rest of the class didn’t. Praying you find comfort in your time of loss.

    Dear Aunt Honey,

    We were saddened to learn of Uncle Julian’s passing and we’re very sorry for your loss.

    We were hoping to visit you and Uncle Julian this summer. We’d still love to see you, but now we are not sure when, as we’ll need to wait until lodging is available along the way.

    We’ve been preparing to sell Martha’s house and came across many of her photos and memories, including your wedding invitation. She saved so many cards, letters and photos.

    We’re praying for you and your family, and Uncle Julian. We’ll surely miss Him! May he rest in peace.

    Love,
    Sue, Frank, Anna and Jim

    Im very sad
    He was a very sweet person.
    And a wonderful teacher.
    May he rest of the peace of the Lord

    God bless you all
    Sending all my love for Honey and is family

    It is with great sadness we learn of the death of Julian. We have never forget how kind and full of attention he was for us many years ago in 1988. We came for France to meet the lovely family who had welcomed our daughter Anne for a year, in WFU program.
    We thank you Julian for all the lovely memories we keep from our stay in Perkins and we will keep in our hearts a very friendly memory of you.

    So sorry to hear the news of his passing! I graduated in 1967 & he was my teacher then! He never seemed to age! Such a good, caring & upstanding man! He will truly be missed! Darlene Anderson Jensen

    I am so sorry about Julian. It was very nice seeing him, whether at the post office or town hall. He always had a big smile and a hello. I never did remind him of the time when he was teaching a class and I (kind of) put my head down and fell asleep. He pitched a blackboard eraser at my desk. Yup, I did wakeup!! He never even got ticked off at me. I always wanted to ask if he remembered that, but never did. He was a very sweet person and the town will miss him very much. Take care. Thinking of you and hope you are o.k.

    So grateful that I saw him a year or two ago at my Uncle Rene’s funeral… I hadn’t seen him in years and he came up and started talking to Pauline and I and knew who we both were… It was good to reminisce Sad to hear of him passing though… My thoughts and prayers are with you Honey…

    Deb Seger-Holm-LeBlanc

    We will be mourning the loss of Julian at our Township meetings. He was such a wealth of knowledge and truly a huge presence in our community! Honey, please know we will be praying for you and your family. May Julian rest in the peace of Christ!

    So sad to hear. I still talk about what a great teacher he was. Will miss him.
    He did do much for our schools and community. He always made time to talk and listen.

    Mr. Vandecaveye was my teacher in 1965, class advisor, and basketball coach. Fast forward to 1990, Mary was in Bay College taking classes, one night she was having problems with her algebra and I told her that one of my teachers may be able to help her. She had never met Mr. Vandecaveye, but she called him for some for some help. For the next hour he helped her with the problem she was having. After that, whenever she ran into Mr. Vandecaveye at the Post Office or Town Hall she always gave him a big Hug! Dick and Mary Krouth P.S. Mr. Vandecaveye graduated with my sister, Elizabeth Krouth Bailey in 1948. Whenever we ran into one another, he would always ask how my sister Liz was doing. He will be sorely missed. Our deepest sympathy.

    So sorry for your loss Honey!! Mr. Vandecaveye was a wonderful man, mentor and teacher!! He remembered all of his students and always took the time to say hello to me at St. Joe’s Church picnic, at any pasty sale, the Legion breakfast or just on the street! He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the family!!

    June 8: Just learned this evening here on the Skradski website of the death of your loved one, Julian. Thinking of you with sympathy in your great loss, and he will be missed so much. I just read all the tributes posted by others, and it is so evident how much he was valued in many ways in the community. Years ago I would see him a lot in the school office in my junior & senior years. Also he was my teacher and our son’s teacher, so I’m glad that others from school days also posted their memories here. It was nice in recent years to often see him at the township hall. He was always very kind and helpful. Going back decades, he would sometimes need to substitute for our schoolbus driver. The little kids getting off on St. Nicholas Road would say, “Goodnight, Julian,” but at that time he was “Mr. Vandecaveye” to even us highschoolers!!!

    He was a kind person, always smiling, and my teacher at Mid Pen. I will forever remember him serving as an usher at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church. May the perpetual light always shine upon him, and may the souls of the faithful departed; through the mercy of God..rest in peace. Amen.

    So sorry for your loss Honey. Julian sure was a remarkable man and I know he will be missed by so many. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.❤️

    I just found out that Julian died. He was one of the last remaining cousins of my father; their mothers were sisters. I always had great respect for him. Frankie and I send our condolences to all who loved him. I know he will greatly missed in your community.

    I had the pleasure of working with Julian when I first started teaching at Perkins High School in 1974. He was a class person. Giving of his best with never a complaint. As an educator he was the best. No matter what he was involved in at school he gave 100 percent. I also worked with him in township government. Even though we were in different townships I would call him for advice. He was always willing to help and very cordial. I will miss his smiling face and congenital personality.

    I was so sad to hear of Julian’s death. Such a kind and wonderful man. Years after I graduated and had gotten married, when I would run into him in town , he’d always give me a huge hug. Once he said ” We are cousins, you can call me Julian.” I told him, “Sorry, I can’t
    do that, you will always be Mr Vandecaveye.” He laughed and said ” Ok.” He knew it was from the great respect I had for him. Honey, hugs to you and your family. My deepest condolences.

    Dear Honey and family,
    We were sorry to hear about Julian’s passing. He was a genial and gracious person and always ready to help his community. Please accept our deepest sympathy on your loss.
    Sincerely,
    Joe and Joan Kitiuk

Post a Tribute

Your email address will not be published. Tributes are moderated before posted. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.