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Van Cleve, The Rev. Allen
The Rev. Allen Van Cleve, 92, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully at home in Clive, Iowa, on Friday, March 11, 2011. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 25, at Echo Hill Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids.
Allen was born in Ridgewood, N.J., May 29, 1918. He attended the University of Minnesota one year, then transferred to Park College in Parkville, Mo., where he graduated in 1941. He attended McCormick Seminary in Chicago, graduated and was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1945. The next day he married Lois E. Dame in the seminary chapel. He served churches in Lewistown, Ill.; Chippewa Falls, Wis.; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before retiring and moving to Swarthmore, Pa., in 1983.
Allen was a gifted singer, having performed in quartets in college and seminary, won first prize in a radio amateur hour, enjoyed singing solos, as well as duets with Lois. He enjoyed listening to choral and classical music. He was a lifelong artist who took art lessons and enjoyed oil painting. Allen was a creative writer of sermons, short stories and letters, showing his humor in captions under photos in numerous family albums. He was an avid golfer who enjoyed, not only the game, but also the friends he met up with on the course. He loved travel, having made several trips to Europe and a Mediterranean cruise.
Allen was a hospice volunteer and served on numerous regional and national church committees throughout his life, and served as president of the Park College Alumni Association. His good humor, caring and compassion touched many lives.
Allen was preceded in death by his parents; older sister, Betsy; older brother, John; and a granddaughter.
He is survived by his wife, Lois; brother, Ray (Pat) of Winston-Salem, N.C.; four children, Dale (Peg) of Ankeny, Jeff of Marion, John (Kris) of Cedar Rapids, and Deb of Mesa, Ariz.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Presbyterian Board of Pensions Assistance Program, c/o Echo Hill Presbyterian Church.
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