Warren Thomas Billeaux, 97, of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away peacefully Jan. 18, 2021, of natural causes.
Born Dec. 1, 1924, in Chicago, Ill., to Rudolph Francois Billeaux and Mary Claire Kramer, Warren spent most of his youth in Hobart, Ind., living with his mother in the home his Grandfather Stoker had built. There he met his lifelong friends, Richard Packham and Tommy Rees. After high school the three of them enrolled in the U.S. Army, fighting in the Second World War. Warren served his country in Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge, where he earned two Bronze Stars, an Award of Merit, and a Special Division Designation. He was in occupied Germany until 1946. The war left a distinct impact on his personality, as he realized that every day is a good day when it is above ground. He and his close friends were fortunate and made it home. “Just lucky,” he would say, as well as, “it does not matter, don’t worry about it.”
Returning home from Germany, Warren used the G.I. Bill to obtain his bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. Ultimately, this education took him around the country (with kids in tow) to experience many forms of art including ceramics, metal sculpture, painting, weaving, tapestry, forging, lapidary, and other creative disciplines. He also was the architect and designer of his retirement home and art studio on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Ind. From 7-foot steel statues to intricate jewelry for his beloved wife, Mary Lou, and his children, he continued to perfect new, imaginative art techniques throughout his life. During his 97 years of life and over 70 years as an artist he mastered many art mediums including bronze and aluminum sculptures, family wedding rings and stained glass, plus teaching and working in watercolors and perspective.
Warren’s art education landed him a position teaching elementary school art in Bedford Park, Ill. There he was fortunate in meeting who would be his future wife, Mary Lou, and her children, Linda, Roy and Patty. Warren’s version of the story was he met Linda and Patty and thought their mother must be as sweet, too, so he married her in July 1955. The new family added two more sons, Tommy and James, and the family made 5 children, a dog and a cat, and built a loving home with many friends and relatives nearby. Warren continued to teach art in the Homewood Flossmoor, Ill., school district, retiring later with Mary Lou to Monticello, where he continued with his pursuit of art. After Mary Lou passed away in 2014, his final years were spent in Scottsdale with his son James, daughter-in-law, Maura, and granddaughter, Danielle.
Warren loved every morning in Arizona. He could be heard mustering himself up with an “alley-oop.” He kept a regular routine with his art or reading most days and always enjoyed his breakfast looking out at the view, exclaiming “Good morning, what a beautiful day.” He would then retire to his studio where he worked on watercolors and ceramics, constructing very intricate pieces which he inlaid with etchings of surrounding mountains and flora found in the Sonoran Desert landscape and Pinnacle Peak Preserve, and firing his latest ceramic creations in his new kiln.
Warren was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Roy Massey; grandson, Jimmy Billeaux; wife, Mary Lou Billeaux; and son, Thomas Ross Billeaux.
He is survived by his sister, Mary (Ed) Hoffman of Indiana; daughter, Linda (William) Becker of Michigan; daughter, Patricia (Ken) Vanecek of San Antonio, Tex., and grandsons, Timothy and Robert; son, James (Maura) Billeaux and granddaughter, Danielle, of Scottsdale; grandsons, Justin, Ross and Joshua Massey; as well as seven great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces, all of whom he loved very much.
A memorial service has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, 3444 E. U.S. 20, Rolling Prairie, Ind., followed by a luncheon served at the church. Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, La Porte, Ind., is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Midwest Museum of American Art, 421 S. Main, Elkhart, Ind. 46516, in memory or honor of Warren Thomas Billeaux.
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