Major (Ret.) John Joseph Cleary
September 23, 1932 – May 27, 2016

A great and honorable man passed peacefully at home Friday, surrounded by his children.

John was born in Jasper, Indiana to Joseph Clive Cleary and Caroline Mildred Cleary. He was the second oldest of six children. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he met the love and light of his life, Joan Margaret McGrath. Together they raised six children and travelled the world, compliments of the USAF. They had many adventures together and spent the past eighteen years living in Johnson City, Texas.

John Joseph was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, & brother. John was a career military man who always stuck to his principles. He had the greatest sense of humor and loved to laugh at his own jokes. This was a man of many talents, a storyteller of note, great teacher, and lover of learning. He was the most well read man and delighted in collecting a plethora of diverse books for his immense library. John was both an artist and poet.

In addition to his parents his brother, Thomas "Tom" Cleary, John was recently preceded in death by his loving wife Joan just over four weeks ago.

He is survived by his six children; Tim Cleary and wife Mary of Bastrop, Tx., Patty Mayer and husband Rick of Plano, Tx., Kevin Cleary and wife Lisa of Pflugerville, Tx., Sean Cleary and life partner Kobie le Grange of South Africa, Shannon Dakovich and husband Bob of Waukesha, WI., Mary Davis and husband John of Sweetwater, Tx.; two sisters, Ann Schmeling and Joelle Tannehill; two brothers, Patrick and Michael Cleary; Eighteen grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends.

Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 PM Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at Crofts – Crow Funeral Home in Blanco with a Rosary to begin at 7:00 PM.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church in Blanco. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Twin Sisters, Tx.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ProLife, Hill Country Memorial Hospice, or to Unbound.