Arthur Claude “Art” Cleland, 91

Arthur Claude “Art” Cleland, 91, of Milroy, Indiana area passed away Saturday, September  5, 2020, at Heritage House Nursing Home of Greensburg, Indiana…another victim of the Corona virus. Art was born at midnight, February 11, 1928 and his parents had a choice of the date, choosing February 12, also Lincoln’s birthday.  Art’s birthplace was in southern Decatur County.  He was the son of Benjamin Morton (Mort) and Amelia (Lauer) Cleland.  On July 8, 1956, he married his wife of 64 years, Carolyn J. Hancock, and she survives.  In addition to Carolyn, Art is survived by a daughter, Mary Ann Cleland Swenson, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Merrill Morton, Lester Owen, and Walter Lauer Cleland and sisters Imogene (William) Davis and Marilee (John) Blackledge, and granddaughter, Andrea Lee Swenson. Art was a 1947 graduate of Sandusky High School.  He has attended several schools which no longer exist, including a grade school at Letts Corner and the one-room Woods school in Southeastern Decatur County. He was a member of the Sandusky Methodist Church where he served as a Trustee. Art worked ten years at Johnston Wholesale Groceries as a semi-driver, during which time he was drafted into the United States Army, 112^th Infantry, 28^th Division, Company I, obtaining the rank of Corporal. He served in Germany from November 1951 to March 1953.  He enjoyed his Army reunions and remained close to his fellow soldiers. Other jobs included Geis & Hodapp Custom Builders; Shelby Dealers Building Supply Warehouse Manager; Utah International Mining & Construction Company.  In the meantime he remained a farmer in Rush County. For the past 39 years Art and Carolyn were very active in preservation through Indiana Landmarks and Rush County Heritage; saving historic buildings.  Art restored and added to the Somerville Schoolhouse, our home, in Rush County, Indiana.  The largest project he and Carolyn worked on was restoring the Moscow covered bridge, which had been destroyed by a tornado. Art was a diligent worker, loyal friend to many, always willing to help and above all, a loving husband.  Truly, he was “the wind beneath my wings”.  Art especially enjoyed farming, traveling to new places with the RV, building something, his 25 year-old Dodge pick-up and tenderloin sandwiches. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 10, 2020, at the Sandusky Methodist Church, Sandusky, Indiana.  The funeral service will follow at the church at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Margaret Lowe officiating. Interment will follow at South Park Cemetery in Greensburg, Indiana, at which time there will be full military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert L. Browning Memorial Fund through the Decatur County Community Foundation or to the Sandusky Methodist Church. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.popfuneralhome.com