James E. Cleland (77) of Effingham
Published on January 20 2017 4:22 pm
James E. Cleland, 77, of Effingham, IL, passed away at 4:55 p.m. Thursday, January 19, 2017, at Evergreen Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Effingham, after a lengthy illness.
According to James' wishes, cremation rites will be accorded. A celebration of life service for James will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 11 at Johnson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Fourth Street, Effingham, with military rites. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 11 prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in loving memory of James to the Wounded Warrior Project, Christ's Church of Effingham, or the American Lung Association.
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James was born on October 25, 1939, in Henderson County, IL, the son of Howard M. and Mabel (Torrence) Cleland. He graduated Bowen High School in Bowen, IL. He joined the Navy in 1957 and served 20 years, retiring as a GMT1. He married Linda Hagerman and to this union four children were born, Jeanine, Brenda, Dwane, and Bonnie. Linda is deceased. Later James married Sandra Mitchell of Effingham on October 23, 1965 at the Willow Street Church of Christ in Effingham and to this union were born, Dwight and Teresa. James was a member of the Moose Lodge, VFW, and the American Legion. After his retirement from the Navy, James worked at Fedders, Keller Appliances, and Davis Swimming Pools. He enjoyed gardening and working in the yard until failing health limited that.
James is survived by his wife, Sandra Cleland of Effingham; daughters, Jeanine Roe (John Cord) of Bushnell, Brenda (Virgil) Raines of Quincy, Bonnie (Steve) Kinne of Quincy, Teresa (Bill) Hogan of Austin, TX; sons, Dwane (Lisa) Cleland of Bushnell and Dwight Cleland of Grand Junction, CO; 22 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; sister, Margie Quick Of Huxley, IA; brothers, Dale Cleland of San Diego, CA and Elgie Cleland of Alpine, CA; and sister-in-law, Shirley Ann Cleland of Erie, CO.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Linda; brothers, Donald and John; sisters, Betty Avery, Helen Forman, and June Livermore; sisters-in-law, Iris, Shirley, and Shirley; brothers-in-law, Max Livermore and Fred Avery; and one grandson, Patrick Raines.