Frank Monroe Cleaver, Jr passed away on May 31, 2022, at Methodist hospital. He was 69 years old. He was born in Independence, Louisiana to Frank Monroe Cleaver, Sr and Ruby Lee (Durand) Cleaver. When he was five years old his parents moved to Iowa.
He was a 1971 graduate of Valley High School, and shortly after graduating he married his wife of 48 years, Laurie Sue (Basquin) Cleaver. They resided in West Des Moines, where they raised their four children.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Laurie, daughter Jackie (Georges) De Vries, son Andrew Cleaver, daughter Tanya (Scott) Burke; as well as 15 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Also remaining are his mother, Ruby Cleaver; 2 brothers: David Cleaver and Timothy Cleaver; two sisters: Jan (Jim) Beam and Brenda Albizures; and many nieces and nephews.
Frank is preceded in death by his father Frank Cleaver, Sr., daughter Celeste Reszel, and brother Gary Cleaver.
Frank will be remembered as a man who was always there for everyone. He truly was a good man, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a go-to person when you needed a helping hand or some advice. He opened his home to many people over the years who needed help or a boost up in life. He demonstrated a work ethic that is not found in many today and encouraged it in others, especially his children and grandchildren. He had a unique perspective and mentored many young carpenter apprentices during his 40 years in the Local Carpenter Union 106, just as his father mentored him.
You did not have to be around him long before you knew his love for fishing with his best buddy, his dog Murphy, better known as “the Murf”. We say he suffered from OCFD - Obsessive Compulsive Fishing Disorder. He loved being at his cabin at Twin Lakes in Missouri, where he spent a lot of time after his retirement enjoying the outdoors. Some of his favorite memories came out of his yearly trips each year to Canada, as well as, fishing on the Great Lakes.
An open house to celebrate and honor the life of Frank will be held on Friday July 8th, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Lodge at Walnut Woods State Park, 3155 Walnut Woods Drive, West Des Moines, 50265