November 25, 1942 – October 26, 2026
Arthur “Art” Leonard Van Cleave, 83, Gardner, Kansas passed away Monday, October 26, 2026 at Overland Park Regional Hospital, Overland Park, Kansas. Celebration of Life will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be given to Wounded Warriors. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com
Art was born in Denver, Colorado on November 25, 1942 to Arthur Edwin and Hazel Feadora (Erickson) Van Cleave. He married Dorothy Mitchell in Boulder, Colorado on June 25,1982. After high school, Art earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Art was a Veteran of the United States Army. He worked in logging, stocked groceries and drove a school bus. Art had a passion for military history. He liked attending Civil War reenactments and target shooting. He did some fight choreography and make-up for theatrical productions. He enjoyed running remote control cars and his cats.
Art was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Dena Van Cleave and brother Frostie Van Cleave. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, Gardner, Kansas; daughter Trish Pulec, Denver, Colorado; grandchildren: Alex James (Jo) Van Cleave, Edgerton, Kansas, Sarah (Drew) Swinford, Guilford, Missouri, Charlie (Rose) Van Cleave, Pittsburg, Kansas and Amanda Hogan, Burlingame, Kansas.
Obituary published by Bruce Funeral Home.
