Ronald E. McCleery

Ronald E. McCleery, 74, passed away at 5:09 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2012, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Ron was born April 17, 1937, at the Gibbons Hospital in Celina, to the late Florence L. (Ireland) and Clifford E. McCleery. On September 6, 1958, he married Joy (Crouch) McCleery in Mariemont, and she survives in Van Wert.

He was a graduate of Van Del High School and The Ohio State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in rural sociology and agriculture economics and was associated with Alpha Zeta fraternity.

He was also in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and entered the United States Air Force upon graduation. He served at several bases, including Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga., RAF Mildenhall in England and at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, and taught aerospace studies at Purdue University. In 1976, Ron returned to Van Wert to help his dad on the farm. Besides farming, he was also a salesman for SI Distributing, based in St. Marys. This necessitated much traveling, but he liked meeting the people at the many farm shows and delighted in eating at all the great restaurants he found on his travels.

He enjoyed golf and spending time with his family at his home on Hamilton Lake.

He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in rural Van Wert County, Van Wert Masonic Lodge, American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert and First Families of Van Wert County.

Also surviving are his children, Kelly (Joe) Ginter of St. Marys, Kristin Hamel (fiancé Christopher Patton) of Van Wert, Scott (Jane) McCleery of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Mark (Michele) McCleery of Van Wert; 11 grandchildren, Joshua (Mae) Vandemark, Jessica Shaw, Conner and Hannah McCleery, Austin Hamel, Kyle and Luke McCleery, Quinn Ginter, Amanda and Bobby Kalafut and Kristen (Matt) Christopher; and three great-grandchildren, Dalton Vandemark, and Cadence and Addison Christopher; two sisters, Joyce R. Hirn and Sharon (Jim) McConnell; and a nephew, Colby L. Hirn.

A brother-in-law, Dennis L. Hirn, also preceded him in death.

Private graveside services will be conducted at a later date at Ridge Cemetery n rural Van Wert County, with Pastor Greg Wack officiating.

Calling hours are from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert.

Preferred memorials: Van Wert County 4-H (which played an important part in his youth), Bethel United Methodist Church or a charity of donor’s choice.