On Wednesday, October 19, 2016, Cletus J. Van Treeck, a beautiful, humble man, lost his 3 ½ year battle with bladder cancer.
He died at home and then made his last earthly journey to be with his God.
Cletus Joseph Van Treeck was born February 15, 1931 to John and Naomi (Hopfensperger) Van Treeck in the Township of Harrison, Calumet County.
He farmed with his dad on the Van Treeck dairy farm as a young man and into the early 1950's.
He was drafted into the Army in 1956.
He did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and then went to Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA, where he worked on the Nike Missiles.
After 6 months, he was brought home due to the health of his father.
He then served in the Army Reserves for 6 ½ years.
At a Thanksgiving dance in 1960 at the Cinderella Ballroom in Appleton, Cletus met Louise, who became his wife on October 13, 1962.
The Van Treeck's farmed the Triangle Dairy Farm until 1988.
Clete was the virtuoso of dairy farming.
He retired from farming to the Gresham area on beautiful Malone Lake.
There, he completely restored a farmette on the lake and found his last calling:
woodworker extraordinaire.
Cletus had such a generous spirit that he more often than not gave much of his "works of art" to his church, family and friends.
He and Louise traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Virgin Islands and Kenya, Africa as well as all over the United States.
Cletus will be so missed by his beloved wife of 54 years, Louise.
Cletus is survived by his five wonderful children:
Lynne (special friend, Cathy) Van Treeck, Rebecca (Darren Krzycki) Van Treeck, Kevin Van Treeck, Karen (Corey) Jarchow, Andrea (Craig) Giese; grandchildren, Anthony, Trever, Benjamin, Kaylyn, Mandy, Ellen and Jonah.
He is also survived by sisters; Germain Kempen and Eyla Mae (Roger) Zwiers; brother, Jack (special friend, Mary) and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Celebration of Cletus' life will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church in Gresham with Rev. David Barrett officiating.
Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 12:30 pm until the time of the services.
A special thank you to Dr. Yao and his staff, to Heartland Hospice, especially Mary, and St. Francis Worship Committee, along with many family and friends along the way.
Clete and his family could not have made this journey without you.
Lastly, Zyzzyva
