William James McCleary
William James “Jim” McCleary, 87, Winona Lake, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 at St. Vincent Hospital of Indianapolis.
Jim was born on May 29, 1930 in Rock Island, Ill. to Ruth (Churchill) and Herbert McCleary. On Dec. 29, 1961, he married Charlotte Arlene Robison Howard, who passed away on Sept. 13, 2003.
Jim grew up in Aledo, Ill. and attended the University of Illinois where he received his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in architecture. He began his career as a teacher of architecture in Florida, soon moving to Indiana where he eventually set up practice in Warsaw. During his career, Jim designed both residential and commercial buildings, including several homes on Winona Lake. In 1982 Jim took a position as a staff architect at Purdue University until his retirement in 1993. Jim was a very active member of the local community, serving on the Winona Lake Town Council, Warsaw Community School Board, Warsaw Airport Industrial Park and other local civic organizations. He was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Winona Lake and a senior active member of the Warsaw Rotary Club. Jim was known as a man of deep faith, good humor and generosity. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He will be lovingly remembered by his five children: Susan Howard, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Mary Lucht, Indianapolis; Tom Howard, Indianapolis; Sally Howard-Schou (husband Peter Schou), South Pasadena, Calif.; and Margaret Gordon (husband Todd Gordon), Carmel. He also leaves behind twelve grandchildren: Cari Strunk, Julianne Bryan, Peter and Kristi Lucht, Conner, Grace, Quinn, Ian and Erin Gordon, Emma, Michael and Solvej Schou; and six great-grandchildren: Hope and Madi Strunk; Lorelai, Isaiah, Jazette and Lukas Lucht. He was preceded in death by one brother, John E. McCleary.
Visitation will be held from 10a.m.- noon on Saturday, Sept. 2, with his service to be conducted at noon at Church of the Good Shepherd, 708 College Avenue, Winona Lake and officiated by Pastor John Quigley. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana.
Memorial donations in Jim’s name may be directed to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 708 College Avenue, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590; or to Warsaw Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1473, Warsaw, IN 46581-1473 and would be appreciated by the family.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s Web Site at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com