John Mathew Cluever Sr.
John Mathew Cluever Sr., age 80, of Brainerd passed away Monday, June 16, 2003.
John was born in Eagle Bend, Minn., on Aug. 15, 1922. His parents, Herman and Henrietta (Warnke) Cluever raised him in Eagle Bend where he graduated from High School. After he graduated he enlisted in the Army where he served in the signal corp for 27 months in the Caribbean. He was discharged from the military on January 1946 and went on to attend Lee's Barber School in St. Paul. He was united in marriage to Jeanne Marie Rudy in St. Paul, Minn. on March 14, 1947. They later moved to Brainerd in 1948 where they continued to make their home. John worked in the area as a barber for a number of years before opening his own shop where he continued to work for 54 years until his retirement. Jeanne passed away July 12, 2002 and John continued to make his home in Brainerd.
John was a lifetime member of the American Legion and V.F.W., Zion Lutheran Church, an avid musician, and a member of Alcoholics Anonymous since 1960.
He is survived by: five sons - Rudy, John Jr. (Tris), Mark, and Charles Cluever of Brainerd, and Michael (Jody) of Baxter, five daughters - Susan (Owen) Lease, Kay Diest of Baxter, Beverly Oren, Mary (Patrick) Doucette of Brainerd, and Patricia (Jeffrey) Sorsveen of Burnsville, a brother - Eugene Goedel of Two Harbors, Minn., two sisters - Esther DeLan of Rock Hall, Md., and Millie Golightly of Waverly, Neb., 34 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wife Jeanne, several brothers and sisters, Son James, and Grandson James Jr.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, June 20, 2003 at Zion Lutheran Church with Reverend Paul Biegner officiating.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 19, 2003 from 4-7 p.m. at Nelson-Doran Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church.
Interment will be at Lake Edward Cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion.