William Raymond Cleland
William Raymond Cleland
William Raymond Cleland
October 27, 1936 – September 24, 2014
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 77
Bill Cleland, 77, of Oskaloosa passed away early Wednesday morning, September 24, 2014, at the MHP Hospice Services Serenity House. William Raymond Cleland, son of William Raymond and Irene Louise (Hink) Cleland, was born October 27, 1936, in Grinnell, Iowa.
Bill attended Ewart Country School until sixth grade when he began at Montezuma Schools, where he played football, basketball and track. After graduating in 1954, Bill attended Iowa State University for a year. He then returned to help his father on the family farm near Ewart.
Through a mutual friend, Bill met the love-of- his-life, Patricia “Patty” Ann Powers of Oskaloosa. They were married June 21, 1959 at the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa. They made Oskaloosa their home.
After their marriage, Bill began working at Iowa Power. He worked there two years before joining the Iowa National Guard. Bill spent the first six months of 1966 in Fort Knox, Kentucky for his basic training and then returned to Oskaloosa, where he continued to serve the Guard in week-end and summer trainings. After returning to Oskaloosa, Bill began work doing appliance repair for Upton and Colville, which later became Ace Appliance. In the 1970s, Bill started his own business, Bill’s Appliance and Repair; he remained active in the business until his recent illness and even took calls just days prior to his death for advice regarding repairs.
From an early age Bill loved sports and when his daughter’s were young, he coached their little league team, the Coca Cola Jets, and served on the Girls Little League Board. He was a loyal Oskaloosa Indians fan and band booster and rarely missed an event. When his grandchildren started participating in sports activities, they could always count on grandpa being at their games and wearing their school colors. Bill was also a bowling league member for many years and a member of the American Legion. Bill was a member of the First Christian Church for over 50 years; he served as a Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder and he and Patty served as youth sponsors for many years. Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be missed by many.
Those left to cherish his memory are: his wife Patty of Oskaloosa, his daughters and sons-in-law: Julie (& Charlie) Herbst of Gurnee, IL and Jennifer (& Craig) McClenahan of Keota, IA; five grandchildren: Tiffany (& Andrew) Ketcham, Tanner McClenahan, Andrew Herbst, Morgan Herbst, and Paige Herbst; a great granddaughter, Eliza Ketcham; a brother-in-law, Walter (& Mary Lou) Cubit, a sister-in-law, Evelyn (& Dick) Stephen; several nieces and nephews; very good friends, Melvin (& Joann) Sanders; and his beloved dog, Sophie.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a sister, Peggy Cleland.
Funeral services for Bill will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 27, 2014, at the First Christian Church of Oskaloosa with Pastors Mike Omundson and Andrea Brownlee officiating.
Burial will be in Forest Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Friday at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present from 5-7 p.m. to greet visitors.
Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church or the American Cancer Society.
