Allan L. Cleland Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

"Well done good and faithful servant." Allan Cleland was born in Kingsley, Michigan on April 2, 1930. He passed away on May 25, 2022. His parents were Walter and Hazel Cleland. Allan has a memory of meeting a pretty girl, Alice Ockert, standing in a cornfield at her dad's farm in Hannah, Michigan. It was a few years before he saw her again. He didn't know she had contracted polio. Fate eventually brought them back together. The spark he felt years before had grown into love. They were married September 27, 1952. Allan always said Alice changed his life. Because of her, he received the gift of a faith life and became Catholic. They were married 60 years. Allan was a genuine light for our family. He loved unconditionally, had a youthful spirit, wonderful sense of humor, a curiosity for life, always ready to listen and lend a helping hand. In the late 1930's, as a young lad, he sold popcorn for the Kingsley community that came into town to watch free movies on the outdoor wall of a now historic building. Throughout his life, Allan enjoyed learning, hiking, fishing, gardening and researching the Cleland Irish ancestry. He loved volunteering to drive the school bus for the Saint Francis students to athletic activities. In his eighties, he participated in 5K's walking side by side with family members and winning gold medals for his age group. Retirement was a special time for Allan and Alice, spending winter months in Florida. We knew how much he loved having that time with his "sweetheart". Friends named them the "A Team". Allan was proud to have served his country in the Navy during the Korean War. Also, Captain Cleland felt privileged to serve and save lives as a Traverse City firefighter for 26 years. He loved his crew. Allan was also proud to have been part of the initial group that helped plan the construction of St. Patrick's Church. Allan always had a dream to build a home by the water and that dream came true at Silver Lake. Allan's greatest legacy, what he loved and was most proud of, was his family. In Matthew 6: 21, it is written, "Where your treasure is, there your heart is also". His heart was with family. He treasured being a husband, dad, grandpa and great grandpa. We knew his greatest joy in life was time spent with them, whether it was traveling, camping trips out West, fishing for bass, exploring the great outdoors, watching his son coach, his children and grandchildren’s sporting events, playing with each new grand baby, and gathering everyone together in a packed house for holidays and birthdays. For his 90th birthday, during the pandemic, his family made a book, "Ninety Reasons Why We Love Dad and Grandpa." They wrote over 175 special messages of love. The Cleland family always knew in their hearts, they were his true treasure. He will be in our hearts forever. Before Allan passed away, He had loving, private conversations with every member of the family. What a gift. We want to thank all of his Silver Lake neighbors and his euchre friends... their kindness helped lessen the loneliness and brought him joy after mom passed away. Allan and Alice had five children. Janice Cleland, Sandy (Jim) Coil, Robert (Penny)Cleland, Bonnie (Art) Olsen, and Patrick Cleland. They had nine grandchildren, Kristin (Matt) Bauman, James Coil, Jenna (Michael) McRae, Maggie (Chad) Biggar, Sam (Katelyn) Olsen, Katy (Brad) Giglio, Alyssa, Matthew, and Ben Cleland. They had 13 great-grandchildren; Michael,Jacob, Luke, Ben and Joey Bauman, Lexi J. Coil, Helen, Max, Vivian, Elliott and Jack Biggar, Gianna Giglio, Andre McRae and Baby Olsen is due in September. Allan is survived by his brother, Clinton. He was preceded in death by his wife Alice, his brothers Robert, Charles, James, Jack, and sister Ellen Marie. A special thank you to Deacon Rene Hoenscheid for Allan's spiritual care. Visitation will take place on Monday May 30, 2022 from 5-7pm at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The rosary will be prayed at 7pm. A funeral mass will take place on Tuesday May 31, 2022 at 11:00am at St. Patrick Catholic Church with visitation from 10am until the beginning of mass. Allan’s final resting place will be Evergreen Cemetery, Kingsley next to Alice. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Allan's honor can be made to the St. Patrick Food Pantry or St. Jude Children's Hospital. After all, everyone was a flower in Allan's bouquet. Allan and his family are being cared for by the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Allan L. Cleland

April 2, 1930 - May 25, 2022