Jon A. Van Cleave

Jon A. Van Cleave went home to his wife, his family, and his God on Friday, December 8th, 2023. He left this earth in the arms and hearts of his loved ones, surrounded by warmth and prayers. Born March 8th, 1938 to Clifton and Louise Van Cleave (nee Boston), Jon was one of five children. As a young man, Jon was a firefighter in the US Air Force. Jon and Carol were married in 1957, and he left the Air Force before their first daughter, Robin, was born in 1960.

With the dream of being a firefighter after returning home, Jon didn’t quite meet the weight requirements to do so. So, he returned to his job as a meat cutter. Adding to their family in 1961, their second daughter, Karen, was born.  Their third daughter, Lisa, was a cherished surprise in 1973.

After a long career as a butcher with Kroger, Jon “retired” in 2002. Never one to relax, he worked part-time at an auto-mechanic shop in the years that followed before he finally let himself slow down. Jon and Carol enjoyed going on fishing adventures, taking long rides together, listening to George Jones, Jimmy Swaggert and Loretta Lynn, and being with their girls, grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren, every chance they got. They had many memorable trips to all the different places around the country, preferably ones they could drive to. They loved visiting Scottsdale, AZ after Lisa and her family moved out there several years ago.

After Carol’s passing in 2019, Jon busied himself with odds and ends, visiting family and friends, making new friends, and taking care of everyone who needed him. He had stories galore to share with everyone he came across and made sure to make a connection with them. Whether he offered someone walking down the street a ride to work or simply brought his friends to and from church, Jon was there.
In recent years, you’d rarely see Jon without his phone. Always taking pictures or videos of anything and everyone so he could look at them later and just remember.

Jon is survived by daughters, Robin (Gary) Langenbahn, Karen (Bill) Hesse, and Lisa (Eric) Schreiner; sister, Maxine Lynam; grandchildren, Rebecca (Brett) Vornauf, Stephen (Jennifer) Torbeck, Chelsea (Matthew) McGrath, Brittany (Kaleb) Turner, Jon Hesse, Savannah Schreiner, Sam Schreiner, Scott (Hannah) Langenbahn, and Brian Langenbahn; great-grandchildren, Austin, Naomi, Kellen, Jaxon, Luke, Chloe, Remi, Lydia, Jayce, and Juniper; and many other relatives and friends.

 He was preceded in death by wife, Carol Van Cleave; and parents, Clifton Van Cleave and Louise Van Cleave.

Jon left a mark on everyone he met. His family and loved ones will forever be grateful for knowing and loving him.

Services for Jon Van Cleave will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Arlington Memorial Gardens Lakeside Mausoleum Chapel, 2145 Compton Road, Cincinnati, Oh 45231. An entombment will follow. Once on the grounds of the memorial park, follow the RED line to the Mausoleum.

Memorial Donations can be made to the United Coalition for Animals (UCAN) and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.