Charles Van Rie, een Adegemnaar in Indiana

Bijdrage van Hans Van Landschoot, Knokke

Uit het boek "THE BELGIANS OF INDIANA" door Henry Verslype,
zoon van Arthur en Sophie Van Landtschoote, geëmigreerd in 1913.

Wat volgt is in het kort het levensverhaal van Charles Van Rie, een Adegemnaar die in 1863 op 21 jarige leeftijd uitwijkt naar Mishawaka, Indiana. Na ongeveer 11 jaar komt hij terug naar Adegem om er te huwen met Melanie Standaert.
Na hun huwelijk gaan ze terug naar Mishawaka, in de VS.

Ze krijgen 4 kinderen, waarvan de jongste - een dochter- jong sterft. De drie anderen zijn hun zonen August, Arthur en Leo. August wordt pastoor en dient in verschillende parochies in de staat in Indiana. Arthur begint zijn eigen bedrijf.

Leopold wordt dokter, studeert af in 1905 aan de University of Notre Dame, daarna aan de Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston - Illinois in 1911, later nog aan de University of Pennsylvania. In 1931 krijgt hij de grootste onderscheidning van het Belgisch Koningshuis, namelijk de medaille van de Orde van Leopold.
Hij ontvangt deze onderscheiding van Koning Albert I op verzoek van Albert Prins De Ligne, uit erkentelijkheid voor wat hij voor de Belgische gemeenschap in Indiana gedaan heeft.

Hans Van Landschoot      

Charles Van Rie, father of THE VAN RIE BROTHERS
Born in Adeghem, Belgium, on November 9, 1842. In 1863, at the age of 21, he came to the United States and settled in Mishawaka. He worked diligently and saved his money, and in 1875, at the age of 33, he returned to Belgium to seek a bride. On July 26, 1875, in Adeghem he married Melanie Standaert and returned with her to Mishawaka.

Their first child, August, was born in Mishawaka on September 27, 1879. Two years later another son, Arthur, was born on November 3, 1881. A third son, Leo, was born in Mishawaka on January 18, 1884. Their fourth child was also a boy, born December 31,1887, and named Aloysius. The last child born to the couple was a daughter, Mellanie, who died in infancy.

AUGUST VAN RIE
attended the parochial school in Mishawaka and reached a decision to become a Catholic priest. After completing his academic and theological training, he was ordained in 1910. He was assistant pastor in several parishes in the diocese for about three years. He was then appointed pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church at North Judson, Indiana, with All Saints' Church in San Pierre as a mission. He remained there for fourteen years. Then, in 1927, he was appointed to serve as pastor of St. Joseph Church in La Porte, Indiana.

During his tenure at St. Joseph's he made extensive repairs to the church, increased the real estate holdings of the parish and, in 1954, built the new school and remodeled the convent. He remained at St. Joseph until his death in 1962 on May 6, having served the diocese 52 years as a priest.

ARTHUR VAN RIE
also attended the parochial and public school of Mishawaka and became a tinner after having served an apprenticeship at a local shop. He had a successful business throughout his working career. He had married Elizabeth Miller of Plymouth, Indiana, and they raised three children. Their son Charles worked at the South Bend News Times in the circulation department. Later he worked at the trade of his father as a tinner in job shops and at the Mishawaka Uniroyal plant. Their daughter, Mary, became Mrs. Morgan Bodel and their third child, Harold, became a chemist, also at Uniroyal

LEO P. VAN RIE
became a doctor of medicine. His medical education began at the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1905. He then went to Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston, Illinois, graduating in 1911. After an internship at People's Hospital in Chicago he started practice in Mishawaka in 1912 on Taylor St. He also attended graduate medical school at the University of Pennsylvania and acquired fellowship in the American Col.lege of Surgeons. In 1962 he was honored by Northwestern University for his fifty years in practice.

Dr. Van Rie was an instructor at St. Joseph Hospital, Mishawaka, in its first School of Nursing and was appointed City of Mishawaka Director of Public Health. In 1931 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Leopold, one of the highest honors awarded by Belgian royalty. This award was made by King Albert I at the suggestion of Prince Albert De Ligne in recognition of Van Rie's service to the people of the Belgian community.

Leo Van Rie and Lillian orchalski were married in 1913, and they had two daughters, Lillian and Loretta.Dr. Van Rie was one of the founders of the West End State Bank and served as a director and as president for many years. He also served as a director of the Colpaert Realty Corp. He died August 17, 1965, at the age of 81, in St. Joseph Hospital where he had spent so much of his 54 years in the practice of medicine in Mishawaka.

ALOYSIUS A. VAN RIE
was born December 31,1887, in Mishawaka and spent all his life there, as did his brothers Arthur and Leo. Educated in the same parochial and public school system as his brothers, he chose as his profession the jewelry business. After serving in World War I, he opened his own store in downtown Mishawaka where he satisfied customers for over thirty years.

After his return from the War he had married Edna Mae Beissel in St. Joseph's Church on May 18, 1920. They had a daughter, Marjorie, and a son, James. Aloysius died at Hines Veterans' Hospital in Hines, Illinois, on June 12, 1943, after a seven-month illness. His wife continued to operate the jewelry store for several years after his death.

This has been the story of one Belgian family of Mishawaka. Charles Van Rie came here in 1863 and lived a long and fruitful life. His children were successful. When he died at the age of 88 on April 12, 1931, his eldest son, Father August Van Rie, officiated at his funeral Mass.