Howard Mccleary

Howard John McCleary, 85, of Pennock, died Friday, October 12, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, October 18, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 P.M. Wednesday at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar with Parish Prayers and Knights of Columbus Rosary at 6:30 P.M. and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Howard John McCleary was born November 4, 1921, in Kerkhoven to John and Bertha (Halverson) McCleary. He grew up in rural Kerkhoven and attended country school near Willmar. He farmed with his father and was also employed by the National Youth Association. On September 12, 1951, he married Jeanne Forcier at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. They lived and farmed in the Willmar, Pennock and Belgrade areas. In 1966, Howard retired from farming and became employed by GTA elevator in Pennock. He retired from GTA in 1985. He was a member of the Church of St. Mary, Knights of Columbus and a Golden Member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Howard enjoyed gardening, fishing with his boys, watching Twins baseball and, most of all, spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids.
He is survived by his wife; five sons, Ronald (and Marsha) McCleary of Kerkhoven, Michael (and Renee) McCleary of Kerkhoven, Roger (and Pamela) McCleary of Kerkhoven, Gerald (and Michele) McCleary of Belgrade and Randall (and special friend, Nancy Balderas) of Clara City; two daughters, Connie Basore of New London and Pamela (and Steven) Ruka of Kerkhoven; fifteen grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, James McCleary in 1968; a brother, Donald McCleary and two sisters, Arlene Simenson and Eleanor Jensen.