Cyril G. Lefevre

Cyril G. LeFevre, 76, of Fort Recovery, Ohio, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.

He was born on May 20, 1946, in Celina, Ohio, to the late Henry and Agnes (Steinbrunner) LeFevre.

Cy is survived by his wife of 54 years, Helen (Meiring) LeFevre, whom he married on June 29, 1968; his children, Angie and David Stone of Liberty Township, Ohio, Greg and Toni LeFevre of Fort Recovery, Ohio, and Tom and Lisa LeFevre of Fort Recovery, Ohio; his 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; his siblings, Kathleen Bohman of Minster, Ohio, Dr. Larry and Kathy LeFevre of Fletcher, Ohio, and Marguerite and David Brunswick of St. Henry, Ohio; and his in-laws, Jeanne and Russell Belle of St. Louis, Missouri, Nancy Knapke of Fort Recovery, Ohio, Jack and Ann Meiring of Union City, Indiana, and Sharon and Jim Zehringer of Naples, Florida.

In addition to his parents, Cy was preceded in death by his siblings, Dr. Philip and Patricia LeFevre, Dr. Henry F. "Bud" LeFevre, and Dr. Joseph and Theresa LeFevre; his brothers-in-law, Daniel Bohman and Dick Knapke.

After graduating from Fort Recovery High School in 1964 Cy studied Industrial Engineering at the University of Dayton. He began his career at NCR in Dayton, and then Dayton Steel before moving back to Fort Recovery working with his father-in-law, Herb Meiring, in the poultry industry. In 1971 Cy started Fort Recovery Poultry Equipment Company, helping the area expand the local poultry and livestock business. Cy helped many people create their own living in the poultry industry. He employed hundreds of local people over the years and took home many awards in the industry.

JR Manufacturing was his next adventure. He and son, Greg, grew the company into a multi-national company with plants in OH, TN and Mexico, employing many people in the area and elsewhere.

Cy loved to farm and expanded his farming business with son, Tom, creating LeFevre Family Enterprises. He loved the market aspect of the business, always being aware of what was happening with grain markets. Cy started, owned, or helped start dozens of other businesses, locally and nationally.

Cy had many, many interests and range of topics. He loved to read and discuss with anyone. He helped start Cardinal Ethanol in Winchester, IN and was serving on their board. He was instrumental in starting the Fort Recovery Industrial Park and Ambassador Pool. Cy worked in the announcers’ booth at tractor pulls for almost 40 years, served on the Fort Recovery School Board, was a member of the Community Hospital Board and a lector at St. Paul Catholic Church. In 2009, he was inducted into the Fort Recovery Hall of Fame, and in 2022 was awarded the Fort Recovery Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. He generously gave business and financial advice to farming friends and business friends and was a father figure to many.

After playing sports in high school, Cy loved watching his children and grandchildren in the sports they chose. His generosity helped fund the Fort Recovery High School track and the new LeFevre Family Baseball Complex.

History was another passion of Cy’s, and he became involved in the opera house project in Fort Recovery, working to restore the historical structure and turning it into a community gathering space. But most of all, Cy was so proud of his three children, the grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He has left quite a legacy for his family and community and will be remembered by all who knew him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Sharpsburg, with Father Ned Brown celebrating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Guests may visit with Cy's family on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM and again on Wednesday from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM at Brockman Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery. A Knights of Columbus prayer service will be conducted on Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the funeral home.

In memory of Cy’s generosity, please make all memorial contributions to his latest passion, the Opera House, by donating to the Friends of the Opera House in care of the Fort Recovery Community Foundation, PO Box 52, Fort Recovery, Ohio 45846.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.brockmanboeckmanfh.com.