Obituary of Fred C. Cleaver

A memorial service for Fred will be held at the Zion UCC, Orangeville, PA

Fred C. Cleaver

Memorial Service

Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021

3PM

Zion United Church of Christ

Orangeville Charge

Forks, PA

Beloved son, brother, father, and grandpa, Frederick Creasy Cleaver passed peacefully in his home to the care of our Lord May 18, 2021.

Born May 11, 1925, in Nescopeck, PA, to Helen Creasy and George C. Cleaver, the Cleavers also lived in Berwick and relocated to Squire Creasy’s homestead in Forks, PA, following the Great Depression. A graduate of Orangeville High School, Fred worked the family’s self-sustaining farm and was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran. 

Employed by Bloomsburg University for more than 30 years, Fred was the manager of custodial services, campus grounds and maintenance and was respected by his peers and well loved by his crew and staff.

Following retirement, he served as Fishing Creek Township Supervisor.

An active member of the Zion UCC, Orangeville Charge, he served as a member of the church consistory, was the choir bass and the Zion Superintendent of Sunday School. He also served as a Bloomsburg Methodist Church Boy Scout leader and Little League coach.

Fred had a spirit for adventure in his Harley-riding youth with brothers Geor & Pres, also WWII veterans, playing ice hockey on Fishing Creek for miles and years on end, square dancing and happy times at the Forks Hotel.

Fred most enjoyed farming, a good card game, and “puttering around” in the garage refinishing antique furniture. An avid reader his entire life, he followed scientific discoveries, conservation efforts, and political affairs, and as a sportsman—fisherman, hunter and trapper, he felt most at home with nature. 

He dearly loved his family: son, Lt. Colonel Chris Cleaver, Lebanon, PA, grandchildren Christopher Cleaver II, Lebanon, PA, and Ashley & Andrew Arasaki, Portland OR, and daughter and son-in-law Heather & Edward Shivokevich, Northport, NY.

Fred is predeceased by his second wife, Dorothy Cleaver, sister Miriam M. Fisher, Lewisburg, PA, brothers George D. Cleaver, Montrose, CO, and Preston A. Cleaver, Almedia, PA, and is survived by siblings Helen Rebecca “Becky” Cleaver, William J. Cleaver, and Colleen M. Kindig, Forks, and first wife JoAnn Cleaver Walk, Benton. 

He enjoyed his final days watching eagles soar over his home with his daughter and son-in-law near Cooperstown, NY, it was meant to be that way. 

“The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away,” he prophetically said on Monday. How blessed we are to have walked with you. Thank you for holding our hands.