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Obituary for William Martin VanCleave
William Martin “Bill” Van Cleave died at his home in Harbor, Oregon, August 2, 2016, just two days after his 76th birthday. Bill was born to William G. VanCleave and Hazel Idaho Deaton VanCleave on July 31, 1940, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. In his early childhood, he lived in Bly and in Willow Ranch, California, where he attended a small country school through the 8th grade. His family moved to Lakeview, Oregon, where he graduated high school in 1958. He attended one year of college at OTI (now OIT) in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He married Shirley Hewitt in January, 1960, and together they raised two sons, Daniel and David and one daughter, Elizabeth.
His working life began in the hay fields in Adel in the summers, and after his Senior year in High School, he went to work for the Lake County Road Department until 1966, when he moved to Harbor, Oregon, to work for Simonson Logging Company in Smith River California. He was the woods equipment Master Mechanic for several years before moving his family to Lakeview to operate Herman’s Grocery from January 1977 through January 1989. At that time he moved back to Harbor, Oregon, where he worked for E&S Wood Construction from then until his retirement January 1st, 2000.
Bill was an active member of the Lakeview Volunteer Fire Department from 1977 until his move back to Harbor, but retained his membership in that organization. He was also a member of the Lake County Search & Rescue and is a 45-year member of Brookings Elks Lodge #1934. He was a member of the Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Brookings and attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lakeview after he retired when he and his wife spent summers at Drews Reservoir from 2006 until 2010 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and was no longer able to continue the development of their summer retirement property there.
He liked fishing and hunting, but he was happiest hunting birds. His childhood in Willow Ranch was some of the best hunting years of his life. Bill was a hard working man who seldom missed work and put in long hard hours and many six- and seven-day weeks. He liked camping, and took his children and later his grandchildren on many camping trips.
Bill is survived by his wife, Shirley; two sons and their wives, Daniel and Suzie Albertson VanCleave, and David and Bethany Merrifield VanCleave of Harbor, Oregon; one daughter, Elizabeth VanCleave Chartier and her husband, Ken, of Lakeview, Oregon; and one foster daughter, Vicki Davis and her husband, Dean, of Bonanza, Oregon. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Holly VanCleave Mueller and her husband, Mike, of Los Angeles, California; Rachel VanCleave Flescher, and her husband, Matt, of Brookings, Oregon; Nichole VanCleave Hall , and her husband, Brad, of Harbor, Oregon; Cody Chartier and his wife, Kelsey Chartier; Dava Chartier Harrington and her husband, Ian, of Lakeview, Oregon; Matt VanCleave and his wife, Sara, of Harbor, Oregon; Joel Chartier of Klamath Falls, Oregon; and Adam VanCleave of Brookings, OR. Twelve great-grandchildren, Madison Mueller, Waylon Flescher, Landon Hall, Hannah Hall, Rylee Hall, Hank Flescher, Jordan Mueller, Dillan VanCleave, Parker Chartier, Taelynn VanCleave, Elias Harrington, and Liam Chartier, also survive him.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, a sister, Sharon VanCleave Swinger, and an infant brother, Robert Dale VanCleave.
Funeral Mass will be held Saturday August 6, 2016 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lakeview, Oregon with burial to follow.