Emil Andrew Leroy VanLeuven

1954 - 2022

Emil Andrew Leroy Van Leuven

Emil Van Leuven, dedicated father,
grandfather, cousin and friend - unexpectedly passed away at home on his farm Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
Emil was born to Ralph and Roberta Van Leuven in Ashland, Oregon, on May 22, 1954. He graduated from Middletown High School in 1972. Emil moved to Coalinga, CA, and began working as a geodetic ground elevation surveyor for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In 1975 the NOAA sent Emil and five others to Alaska to survey along the pipeline from Anchorage to North Slope. In 1977, Emil began working for PGE, building Lattice Towers throughout the United States, including New Mexico, Minnesota, and Louisiana.
When his mom's health began to decline, Emil moved back home to Middletown to be near her. In 1980, Emil started working in the steam fields at the Geysers. Emil eventually became a power plant operator and in 2020 he retired after 40 and a half years.
In 1985, the story goes, Emil dropped money on the ground and both him and Denita bent down to pick it up and bumped heads (there's an Emil joke in there somewhere) and in 1988 they were married. In July 1989, they welcomed their daughter, Courtney; he was the very first person to hold her - and almost drop her. When Courtney was two, Emil began his journey of raising his little girl on his own. They became an inseparable duo from then on.
Through the years, Emil enjoyed working on his cars…he never actually fixed them but he had the best shop, all the tools and "five different ways to pull an engine." He also had an affinity for bicycles and many can remember seeing him riding the highway or throughout town. Just a week before he passed he rode his newest electric bike the 16 miles over Cobb mountain, from Middletown to his home in under 40 minutes. Emil was a movie buff and loved 'going to the show,' even if he was going solo. He found joy in traveling whether it be by plane, train, boat or one of his many cross country driving trips. A laconic man with an intimidating stature, he was best known for his generosity, giant heart, confusing humor, love for Christ, and his undeniable passion for his family, specifically his grandchildren.
Being a grandpa (most knew him as Papa) came naturally to Emil. There was not a day in his grandchildren's lives that he wasn't a part of. Papa learned to use cloth diapers, bought a different bike so he could pull the kids around behind it, he drove his granddaughter Emilia to school every morning, went to every doctor's appointment, sports game, recital and rodeo and then said thank you for including him.
His grandkids loved his neck kisses with the tickly scratch of his chin whiskers. He cherished every moment spent with his three E's (his grandbabies) and insisted the twins not be sent to daycare and stay with him instead.
Emil is survived by his daughters, Courtney (Justin) and Amanda (Kamal); his son, Dustin (Mary); his grandchildren, Emilia, Ethon, Eli,
Ellarose, Khalil, Cameron, Hanna and Jessie; and countless others he claimed and loved as family.
Emil never suffered and was with the Lord before he could ever know something was wrong.
To honor his memory, attend a Sunday Church service and seek out a relationship with the Lord, show up for those in need, don't sweat the small stuff, and always let the words 'I love you' be your last words in every conversation.
Please join his family for a Celebration of Life on the ranch Emil was raised on…21534 Dry Creek Cutoff, Middletown, on February 4, 2023, at 1 p.m.