Donald Lee VanCleave
Dec. 4, 1935 ~ Feb. 22, 2011
Donald Lee VanCleave, 75, passed away Feb. 22, 2011, with his family by his side. Don was born Dec. 4, 1935, to Chris and Anna Robinson VanCleave in Steamboat. He resided there the majority of his life and was graduated from Steamboat High School.
He married Jeanette Podbevsek in Glenwood Springs in 1957 and together they had six children. He married Erna Cox in 1985 in Grand Junction, Colo.
Don worked construction much of his life and also worked in mining and was a State Farm insurance agent.
Don was a cowboy all of his life and an avid bowler who also enjoyed golf and skiing.
He was preceded in death by one son, Blake; two grandchildren, Holly and Sarah Dixon; a sister, Alice Rowley; and his parents.
Don is survived by four daughters, Ronda Worrall and Brenda (Kelly) Brown both of Rangely; Tonya (Fairl) Dixon of Parachute; and Cheri Burchett of Trenton, Mo.
One son, Gary (Lisa) VanCleave of Grand Junction; 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; one sister, Vera (Jake) Combs of Kansas City.
Don also had a special relationship with Jurgen Bauknecht and his son Dennis of Karlsruhe Germany and Mike and Michelle Bauknecht and their daughters Sydney and Savannah of Steamboat.
He was a good Samaritan and was very unselfish with his time, quietly helping others.
Services were held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Steamboat on Saturday, Feb. 26, internment followed at the Steamboat Cemetery.
