Able T. McCleary

MCCLEARY, SEXAUER, TEGTMEYER, EMGLAND, GILLESPIE

Posted By: James Murphy (email)
Date: 7/18/2012 at 06:55:33

Abel T. McCleary (1917 - 2012)

Ankeny

Abel T. McCleary, 94, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2012 at Sunnyview Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa. A visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at Memorial Services of Iowa funeral home (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd.) A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday July 19, at Greenwood Friends Cemetery, on Oralabor Road, in Ankeny.

Abel was born on his parents' farm in Bondurant, Iowa on July 30, 1917 to Walter Ellis and Nora Aldora McCleary. He graduated from Bondurant High School in 1935.

He married Lucille Irene Sexauer on March 15, 1941 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They lived on a farm near Bondurant, Iowa until Abel was drafted into the United States Army, March 1942. Abel served overseas in World War II in Africa, Italy, and Germany.

After World War II, Abel and Lucille moved to Ankeny to start a family in what Is now the Ankeny Historical Society House. Lucille and Abel owned and operated McCleary Shoes in Ankeny from 1958 to 1984.

Abe was a farmer and owned McCleary Corn Shelling and Trucking. He enjoyed going to Casey's for coffee every day and visiting with the guys. He taught all of his grandchildren to play cribbage and he enjoyed cards with his family and friends. Abe enjoyed being a square dance caller and dancing with Lucille. He was a member of the Lions Club and Ankeny American Legion Post #42. Later he enjoyed farm shows, being with his friends and farmed until he was 89 years old.

Abel and Lucille were married 68 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Irene Sexauer McCleary, his brothers Roy McCleary and Morris McCleary, his sisters Madeline Tegtmeyer and Darlene England.

Abel is survived by his children, Doreen (Lawrence) Gillespie of Nevada, Melvin (Sandy) McCleary of Waverly, and Norman (Deb) McCleary of Ankeny, Seven Grandchildren, four Great-Grandchildren and a host of beloved friends.

Published in Des Moines Register on July 18, 2012