Otto "O.C." Charles Leu

Otto Charles “O.C.” Leu, 91, went to be with his Lord on August 9. Born in Toledo, OH on February 14, 1926 to Otto. T. and Ruth Leu, he had one brother, Jerry, who preceded him in death. After excelling in academics and athletics at Lambertville High School where he graduated in 1944, O.C. enlisted in the US Air Force, where he became a rear gunner for a United States bomber plane.  After the War, O.C. returned to the US and married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Widmer. O.C. and Beverly spent some time at Bowling Green State University where O.C. played a year of college baseball, and in Bangor, Maine, where he played professional minor league baseball for the Cleveland Indians organization. The couple then moved to East Lansing, where Beverly worked and O.C. used the GI Bill to finish up his graduate degree in Education at Michigan Agricultural College (MSU).  O.C. taught and coached sports for several years in Michigan. His favorite summertime endeavor during his teaching and coaching years was creating and leading several groups of youth on trips called Westward HO! He also was a professional fast pitch softball pitcher for a few summers in International Falls, MN.  In the early 1960’s, O.C. transitioned his teaching and coaching skills into a job with Chrysler Corporation. His role as an executive was to manage training centers in various urban areas around the country that trained and equipped underprivileged youth and young adults to obtain good jobs. In later years, he helped train upcoming executives for Chrysler at the company’s headquarters in Auburn Hills.  O.C. is survived by 2 children: Michael (Marie) Leu of Mentor, OH, and Bart (Lori) Leu of Adrian. A third son, Scott, went to be with the Lord in 2012; 8 grandchildren: Jason, Jessica, Joshua (Lauren), Matthew, Jennifer (Mike), Benjamin, Kelsey and Cory; and 2 great grandchildren. He also leaves behind a special friend, Marion.  O.C. instilled his love of sports and strong work ethic into his children. He modeled for his family what it meant to treat all people with equal value, kindness, and to be an encouragement to others. He was a man of his word. O.C. loved the outdoors, especially the western U.S. and Manistee County, Michigan. O.C. was a huge fan of MSU football and basketball, as well as the Detroit Tigers and Lions. He was a faithful fan of his grandchildrens’ sporting events.  O.C. was a good moral man, but in his late 50’s he realized that just being a good person was not good enough. Through the influence of his son Scott, and others God had placed in his life, O.C. came to the realization that he was a sinner loved by God, and asked Jesus Christ to come into his life to be his Lord and Savior.  From that day forward, O.C. asked God to help him live a life that fully honored God. He spent many years after that serving the Lord through the Temperance and Monroe Free Methodist Churches.  After Beverly’s death in 2013, O.C. spent 3 wonderful years living at Brookdale Independent Living apartments where he had made many great friends. The family of O.C. would like to thank the staff of Brookdale and the staff of Hospice of Lenawee for all the love and care they showed our Dad/Grandpa in the last years and days of his life.  There will be a private graveside service for the family in Walbridge, OH on Aug. 20, 2017. Contributions in memory of O.C. can be made to Hospice of Lenawee.  Condolences may be offered to the family online at: www.PurseFuneralHome.com