Robert VanCleave

TUSCOLA - Robert Lee Van Cleave, 101, of Tuscola, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, surrounded by family at his residence.

He was the son of Charles Carlton Sr. and Daisy (Weidner) Van Cleave. He married Margaret Jean Ghere on April 6, 1947, in Arcola. She preceded him in death on Dec. 19, 2015, after 68 years of marriage. 

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 E. Main St., Arcola. The Rev. Tony Crouch will officiate. Burial will follow in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, at the funeral home.

He is survived by all five of his children, Sandra Fiscus and her husband, Ed, of St. Joseph, Dale Van Cleave and his wife, Candy, of Galt, Calif., Dr. Nancy Van Cleave of Charleston, Dean Van Cleave of Tuscola, and Dwayne Van Cleave and his wife, Laura, of Tuscola; six grandchildren, Teresa Evans and her husband, Steve, LeighAnn Van Cleave and her husband, David, Robin Van Cleave and her husband, Ryan, Benjamin Van Cleave and his wife, Jenna, Jessica Stewart and her husband, Kyle, and Michelle Simpson and her husband, Lane; nine great-grandchildren, Jacob and Joshua Evans, Kaleb Miller, John Stewart, Olive and Jack Van Cleave and Jack, Matthew and Ben Riley. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a great-grandson, Zachery Evans, a brother, Charles Jr., and seven sisters, Gladys Smith, Bessie Little, Florence Van Cleave, Edna Dove Van Cleave, Kathryn Van Cleave, Christine Jones, and Delores Edwards.

Bob was born at home on Jan. 19, 1924, into a farming family, the seventh of nine children. He was 7 years old when his father passed away. Consequentially, he started helping on the family farm, planting corn with horses and driving tractors when he was just 10 years old. He continued to farm until his late 50s. Young Bob developed a fascination with flying. He later learned to fly and then obtained a commercial pilot's license. He worked with the ASCS office from 1961 to 1980. In 1980, he went to work for the Federal Crop Insurance, where he served as a crop insurance adjuster and supervisor. He later worked for Agri-Serv out of Iowa. He retired in the late '90s. 

His love of fishing gifted him with the nickname "Fishin' Bobber." He was an especially good fly fisherman - a gift he shared with his kids and grandkids. Bob even made his own flies for fishing known as "Bobber's Bugs," which evolved from an old CB handle. 

Bob and Margaret were members of the Mt. Gilead United Methodist Church in rural Tuscola until it closed. Bob taught Sunday school for over 40 years there. They then attended the First Christian Church of Tuscola. Recently he also attended Victory Church of Camargo. 

Bob enjoyed traveling. He and Margaret traveled by RV for several years, making friends and enjoying winters near Big Bend National Park in Texas. Having the desire to serve others by volunteering, he was a member of the Tuscola Kiwanis Club and helped with Habitat for Humanity for several years. Because of Bob's extensive knowledge of the Bible and his personal faith, he was drawn to share the love of Jesus to all he met. 

He also enjoyed gardening, winning at cards, and golfing. He never met a stranger, always had a thirst for knowledge, enjoyed tinkering and could make anything work. Above all, Bob loved his family and the Lord. 

The family would like to express their gratitude to Nicki Fidler of Carle Hospice and Bobbie Jo Hatfield for their outstanding care during his final weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are being collected for the conservation of Wimple Park in Tuscola to ensure local fishermen have a spot to cast their reels and enjoy God's beautiful creation. Please make checks payable to Dwayne Van Cleave, and the memo to Bob Van Cleave Memorial.