Cyriel “Cy” DeMeulenaere passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026 surrounded by his children comforting him. Cy was born on Jan. 31, 1927 in Lichtervelde, Belgium, to Emiel and Irma (Vandecastelle) DeMeulenaere. He was their third child of five.
Cy was blessed to celebrate his (99th) Birthday with a few family members and friends on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Cy loved to write and send cards out, and with a wonderful memory and big heart he remembered everyone’s Birthdays and Anniversaries. At age 10 ½, he left with his parents and three of his siblings and came to America. They settled in Centerline to live and farm.
Our father attended a small school with a beloved teacher that taught 60 children, where he learned English and helped her teach mathematics. He had to help his parents farm and missed too much school and could only finish eighth grade.
Cy also loved playing baseball after school and treating friends with the money from the coach to ice cream. He continued to be a big Tigers fan throughout life. Later years he cheered on the Detroit Lions, too.
As a child he worked the fields for his father with a team of Belgium work horses. He loved going to the Armada Fair and watching teams pull as a sport. Cy loved horses and was proud to own many in life and rode in the Romeo Peach Festival twice. Cy loved the outdoors, hunting pheasants with his dogs and taking the family deer hunting, up-north.
Cy also worked in construction over 30 years as a Masonary and Foreman for years for Ebeling and Hicks of Romeo. Later Cy enjoyed farming with his son, Robert (Bob) DeMeulenaere and family.
Cy met the love of his life, Helen Susan Mikolowski while dating, he took her dancing and to the movies before getting married, on Oct. 2, 1948 at East Bethlehem Church in Detroit.
Cy is survived by his children Robert (Julie) DeMeulenaere and Cindy (Steve) Brancato both of Washington Township, MI. His grandchildren include Jennifer and Anthony (Roberta). Blessed with four great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Emiel and Irma and siblings, Celenia, Robert, Livea and Willy, Hope Angelica Brancato, also T.J. Vigil.
Visitation will be held 1-8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20 with a memory share at 7 p.m., at the Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home in Romeo.
Funeral Service will be held 12 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21 with a visitation from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 8600 27 Mile Road, Washington Township.
Burial will follow the funeral at St. Johns Cemetery, 25 Mile Road between Jewel and Schoenherr roads in Shelby Township.
In lieu of flowers, family would like donations to be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.
