Berwyn Cleaveland, the son of Simeon and Jessie (Freeman) Cleaveland, was born July 28, 1918 at Oakland IA and died May 24, 2010 at the Oakland Manor Nursing Home in Oakland, IA at the age of 91 years.

Berwyn attended country school until the 8th grade. After the death of his parents, Berwyn lived with his brother Elvin and then his uncle for a short time. When Berwyn was 15, he started working as a hired farm hand. On January 22, 1937 he was united in marriage to Erma Rollins at the Methodist Parsonage in Council Bluffs. Berwyn and Erma rented a farm for a short while before purchasing a farm west of Oakland. Berwyn then purchased a truck line and he and Erma moved in to Oakland. He sold the truck line in 1960, and then ran a boat shop, an auto body shop, the Sinclair Station, and a feedlot cleaning business. Berwyn eventually returned to farming, where he helped his son Richard farm. He continued farming until the time of his death.

Berwyn is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Elvin and Maurice, and his grandmother Margaret Cleaveland.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Erma Cleaveland of Oakland, IA; his son Richard and wife Leslie of Oakland, IA; his grandchildren Brad and wife Regina of Council Bluffs, IA, Mitch and wife April of Lampe, MO, and Tracy and wife Laura of Papillion, NE; six great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and 4 step great grandchildren. Berwyn is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 10:30 AM at the Oakland United Methodist Church in Oakland. Visitation with the family will be held at the Oakland United Methodist Church on Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM. Interment will be at the Oaklawn Cemetery at Oakland. Memorials are suggested to the Oakland United Methodist Church. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.