Vera Cleland

Vera Cleland, age 90, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, formerly of Vermillion, South Dakota, passed away July 24, 2010, at her home.

Vera was born October 16, 1919, in Juneau, Alaska, to the late Martin and Louise (Lacey) Majewsky. She graduated from Los Angeles, California High School in 1937 and attended one year of junior college. Vera married Ervin "Pete" Cleland on June 19, 1941, in El Monte, California. The Clelands moved to Vermillion in 1945 to work the family farm. Vera worked at the University Of South Dakota Medical School as a lab technician from 1953 until her retirement in 1990. She moved to Council Bluffs in 1998 and was a member of the Bodacious Babes of Council Bluffs.

Vera was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Ervin "Pete" Cleland, in 1997; grandson, Wayland "Lewie" Massey, III; brother, Martin Majewsky.

She is survived by her daughter, Denna Massey and husband, Wayland "Lew," of Council Bluffs; son, Lonnie Cleland and partner, Kay Graham, of Des Moines, Iowa; 3 grandchildren, Keith Massey, Rebecca Pilcher-Cleland and Scott Cleland, 6 great grandchildren, Madison, Hunter, Brock, Gabrielle and Saylor Massey, Henry Offenhauser; brother, Bill Majewsky, in California.

Visitation with the family, Tuesday, 4 to 6 p.m., at Cutler-O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Bayliss Park Chapel in Council Bluffs. Graveside service and burial will be held in the Bluff View Cemetery in Vermillion, South Dakota. Memorials are suggested to Hospice with Heart, 300 West Broadway, Suite #114, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503.


This obituary was originally published in The Daily Nonpareil.