Obituary of Eddie Rene Baeyens

EDDIE RENE BAEYENS 7/24/48 to 3/10/15 Eddie Rene Baeyens passed away at 66 years of age on March 10, 2015 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He was born to Evelyn Irene and Gustave Peter Baeyens in Orange, California on July 24, 1948. He was wed to Virginia Lorraine Baeyens in Las Vegas, Nevada; they were married for 12 years. Eddie lived his life as an active, adventurous, resourceful, outspoken and fiercely independent soul. As early as age 10 he would take his surfboard on the bus to surf the waves at Huntington Beach. He loved the outdoors, growing up with camping trips and learning to ride motorcycles, hunt and fish with his father. He also loved his country and voluntarily served in the Army from 1967 until honorably discharged in 1970. He was a proud Veteran of service in Vietnam, working as a mechanic and driving a tank retriever at the DMZ. After his discharge he traveled around the country before serving an apprenticeship with the International Union of Operating Engineers. He called himself a 'Heavy Equipment Operator' and said he was called 'Steady Eddie' because he always worked hard at being on time and doing his best. He was a proud I.U.O.E. member and was awarded his 35 year service pin by I.U.O.E. Local #12 on 10/24/13. He was also a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, London Bridge Chapter #27. Eddie was born, raised, and started his own family with his first wife, Barbara, in Orange County, California, but could not tolerate the growing crowds of people there, so he found a way to build his first home in Bullhead City where he tried to raise his son, Gus, closer to nature. Although his path brought him back to California for awhile, his careful planning for retirement allowed him to make his last home with his second wife, Virginia, in Lake Havasu City, near his sister and brother-in-law, Susie and Howard Castleberry, and lifelong friends, Walt and Connie Rowe. He had a pontoon boat built just the way he wanted and had good times with family and friends on the lake. He loved his family, friends, nature, sunrises, sunsets and lightning storms. He learned to appreciate, then love his cat, Indiana Jones, and said he had made peace with the critters. Doves returned to the same nest just outside his window, and quail returned with their families every year. He kept his backyard a natural wilderness and enjoyed watching the weather, wildlife and changing seasons from his recliner when his health problems kept him inside. His lifelong love of racing, machines, nature and history provided him many choices to watch on the biggest TV he could find. Eddie will be remembered with love and missed by those he left too soon. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Lorraine Baeyens; sisters, Bonnie Lee Rowe and Susan Marie Castleberry; son, Gustave Eddie Baeyens; stepsons, George Akindinos Turlis and Aaron Lee Turlis; and grandchild Tobias Whitman Baeyens. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory. Thoughts and condolences may be sent to the Baeyens family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.