Paul R. Bien

Paul R. Bien of West Lafayette, Indiana, died peacefully on November 20^th at Westminster Village at the age of 87.

Paul was born on November 3, 1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Paul and Marion Bien. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1962 with an engineering degree and his career spanned six decades. He spent 30 years at the Electromotive Division of General Motors in LaGrange IL where he specialized in diesel locomotive design. He holds multiple patents for component parts he invented to improve locomotive engine performance. In the second half of his career he consulted for firms in the US, Mexico and Europe that sought out his expertise and problem-solving skills.

He married his loving and devoted wife Elizabeth (Betty) (née Heuerman) in Cincinnati on August 6, 1960. They met the summer before their senior years of high school at a bowling alley on a Wednesday night. After Paul’s college graduation, they moved to the western suburbs of Chicago where they raised their five children and lived for the next 55 years. In 2017, they moved to West Lafayette and resided at Westminster Village, where they made many friends and enjoyed a busy social life and lots of activities.

Paul passionately put his engineering mind to work with many hobbies, usually transportation related. He made live steam engines, museum-quality boat models and antique clock reproductions. He restored a 1917 Ford Model T and then purchased his pride and joy – the iconic 1914 Model T brass touring car. He dreamed of owning one since he was 12-years-old and drove a 1914 that had been converted into a pickup truck on a family friend’s farm. He and Betty were active for years with the Model T Ford Club (Midwest Chapter) and enjoyed many tours near and far with the group. He proudly chauffeured his daughters and daughter-in-law to church on their wedding days in the Model T and delighted in taking his kids and grandkids on jaunts around town. His lifelong love of airplanes began as a child making balsa wood models and culminated with him, in his 80’s, taking private flying lessons at Purdue University’s airport.

Paul and Betty celebrated their 65^th wedding anniversary in August with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to Betty, Paul is survived by his children Susan Mettel (Bill Dunmire) of Sacramento CA, Jim (Cadi) Bien of Carmel IN, Julie (Peter) Manning of Lake Bluff IL, Cathy (Keith) Archambault of Bellingham WA, and Dan (Carey) Bien of Lake Geneva WI; grandchildren Jeff Mettel, Kathleen Mettel, Madeleine Balkonis, Abby Bien, Tommy Bien, Megan Manning, Anna Manning, Zach Archambault, Emily Archambault, AJ Calamia, Cal Calamia, Libby Bien, Charlie Bien, and Yazzie Winston; great-grandchildren Gabriel Mettel and Adelaide Balkonis; sister Gail Young and brother Richard Bien; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert Bien.

Betty and her family sincerely thank the dedicated staff at Westminster Village and IU Health Hospice and Dr. Marcy Gibbs for the exceptional care and compassion they gave to Paul throughout his illness, and for the support and guidance they provided to the family.

Funeral services will take place on December 6^th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on the campus of Purdue University, located at 535 Mitch Daniels Boulevard, West Lafayette, IN  47906. Visitation is from 9 -10 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial. Internment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Paul’s memory be made to IU Health Hospice via the IU Health Foundation, PO Box 775589, Chicago, IL 60677; and Food Finders Food Bank, 1204 Greenbush Street, Lafayette, IN 47904 or https://www.food-finders.org.