D. Bruce Cleveland

D. Bruce Cleveland, age 94, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2025, at his home in LaGrange, Indiana, in the loving care of his family.
He was a man deeply dedicated to those he loved and to the communities he served-using his skills, strength, and talents throughout his life to encourage, help, and support others.
Bruce was born in Syracuse, Ohio, on February 3, 1931. He attended Middleton High School in Ohio and graduated from the Case Institute of Technology in 1953 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. On June 6, 1953, he married the love of his life, Michele "Mike" Brown, at the First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus, Ohio.
Bruce served in the Air Force Reserves from 1951 to 1954. He then spent 12 years with the American Gas Association in Cleveland as a test and inspection engineer. Following that, he became the manager of quality control at the Coleman Company in Wichita, Kansas, where he was later promoted to manager of design engineering for the company's recreational vehicle division.
In 1972, he moved to Marshalltown, Iowa, to serve as chief engineer of the heating and environmental control design group at the Lennox Research Lab. In 1978, Bruce and Mike settled in LaGrange, Indiana, with their children, where he worked in the engineering department for the RV heating and air-conditioning division at Duo-Therm. He later retired from Radco Industries in Goshen in 1996.
Bruce was dedicated to helping others and joyfully volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for over 30 years. He cherished being a husband, father, and grandfather, often sharing stories that reflected the deep love he had for his family. He and Mike enjoyed traveling together driving across the country and visiting Australia and Spain.
Around town, Bruce was fondly recognized as the man walking the noisy beagle, the big basset hound, or the little black Pomeranian. He and his dog took a daily walk through town, always ending with a donut to share at Foltz Bakery. Though Mike was an exceptional cook, Bruce's favorite lunch was always a simple PB&J. In his later years, he found joy in sitting on the porch, watching the birds and wildlife, and waving to neighbors as they passed by. He will be dearly missed and forever loved by all who knew him.
Bruce was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Michele "Mike" Brown Cleveland, and his parents, Donald and Thelma Cleveland.
He is survived by his five children: Kathleen (Robert) Shanahan of LaGrange, IN; Eric (Annette Stanton) Cleveland of Los Angeles, CA; Connie (Greg) Lehman of Topeka, IN; Patrick (Catherine) Cleveland of Madison, IN; and Jennifer (Mark Leykauf) Cleveland of Fort Wayne, IN. He is also survived by eight grandchildren; Jeff Colin, Erin Colin, Christine Cleveland, Andrew Lehman, Sara Rocke, Tabitha Lehman, Sam Cleveland, and Madison Vining; and five great-grandchildren.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Parkview Home Health & Hospice for providing equipment, supplies, and for the exceptional compassion of their nurses and aides.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages others to plant a tree, feed the birds or squirrels, or donate to Hospice or Habitat for Humanity.
In keeping with Bruce's wishes, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.