Jim McCleary, an architect who had a role in the development of Grace Brethren church buildings, has died. During his early years in the Warsaw-Winona Lake, Ind., area, he worked for the Brethren Architectural Service, an arm of the Brethren Home Missions Council which provided building plans and engineering services for Grace Brethren congregations in the U.S. His obituary appears below.
William James “Jim” McCleary of Winona Lake, Ind., died on Tuesday, August 29, 2017, at St. Vincent Hospital of Indianapolis at the age of 87.
Jim was born on May 29, 1930. in Rock Island, Ill., to Ruth (Churchill) and Herbert McCleary. On December 29, 1961, he married Charlotte Arlene Robison Howard, who died on September 13, 2003.
Jim grew up in Aledo, Ill., and attended the University of Illinois where he received his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in architecture. He began his career as a teacher of architecture in Florida, soon moving to Indiana where he eventually set up practice in Warsaw. During his career, Jim designed both residential and commercial buildings, including several homes on Winona Lake. In 1982, Jim took a position as a staff architect at Purdue University until his retirement in 1993. Jim was a very active member of the local community, serving on the Winona Lake Town Council, Warsaw Community School Board, Warsaw Airport Industrial Park and other local civic organizations. He was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Winona Lake and a senior active member of the Warsaw Rotary Club. Jim was known as a man of deep faith, good humor, and generosity. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He will be lovingly remembered by his five children: Susan Howard (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio); Mary Lucht (Indianapolis, Ind.); Tom Howard (Indianapolis, Ind.); Sally Howard-Schou (husband Peter Schou) (South Pasadena, Calif.); and Margaret Gordon (husband Todd Gordon) (Carmel, Ind.). He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren: Cari Strunk, Julianne Bryan, Peter and Kristi Lucht, Conner, Grace, Quinn, Ian and Erin Gordon, Emma, Michael and Solvej Schou; and six great-grandchildren: Hope and Madi Strunk; Lorelai, Isaiah, Jazette and Lukas Lucht. He was preceded in death by one brother, John E. McCleary.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – Noon on Saturday, September 2, 201, with his service to be conducted at Noon at Church of the Good Shepherd, 708 College Avenue, Winona Lake, Ind., and officiated by Pastor John Quigley. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Ind.
Memorial donations in Jim’s name may be directed to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 708 College Avenue, Winona Lake, Ind. 46590; or to Warsaw Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1473, Warsaw, Ind. 46581-1473 and would be appreciated by the family.