John Alan Cleveland's Obituary
John Alan Cleveland, age 70, passed away peacefully at home, on Friday, July 14, 2023. He was born September 3, 1952, at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon, MI, to Marianne and Darrel Cleveland. He graduated from Spring Lake High School and went on to Grand Valley University and UC Berkeley. He worked in Nursery sales for over 40 years, working for Zelenka, Austin, and Stinchcomb nurseries and eventually his own company, Beechwood Nursery.
John had the opportunity to travel across the U.S. and Mexico for work and he always took the time to enjoy and explore the areas he was visiting. He enjoyed visiting Mexico so much; he learned Spanish just to be able to hold a conversation with those around him when visiting. He had a passion for golf and would hit the links anytime he could. If he wasn’t on the course, he would have been down at the beach playing a pickup game of volleyball, hanging out with dear friends, or creating new memories with family. Chess, Words with Friends, woodworking, and crossword puzzles were his favorite rainy-day pastimes. John loved his daughters, grandchildren, and friends and would encourage, support, and invest in their passions.
John will be dearly missed by his daughters, Kim Cleveland, Jessica Elder, Courtney Brown and Bailey Cleveland; grandchildren, Darian, Zoe, Sadie, Lex, Chloe, Brennden, Riley, Aubrey, and Michael; and sister Mary Grammar and her partner Jeff Parish, and nieces Michele Villarreal, Jeanene Grammar, Katherine Johnson, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robin (Rob) McEmber.
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE will be held from 2-4PM on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in the VanZantwick Chapel Family Center of Sytsema Funeral and Cremation Services (620 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417). To honor his adoration of the outdoors, the family would like to erect a bench in his honor at the Grand Haven State Park, by the beach volleyball courts. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be directed to MEMORIAL BENCH.
Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to be serving the Cleveland family. To share special memories with the family and sign the online guestbook, please visit http://www.sytsemafh.com.
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