Gordon Cleland

Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Monday, May 5, 2008, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Decatur, IL. Visitation will be 4 to 7 P.M., Sunday, May 4, at Brintlinger & Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, IL, with prayer service at 7 P.M. Graveside service and burial will be 3:00 P.M., Monday, May 5, at Valley Memorial Park, Spring Valley, IL. Memorials may be made to Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation or Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.Gordon was born February 11, 1934 in Spring Valley, IL, the son of John Carson and Bernice Helen (Donna) Cleland. He married Donna Marie Koster on July 25, 1959 in Peru, IL. Gordon was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Gordon first joined the Illinois State Police on December 15, 1957, promoted to Sergeant in 1969 and in 1971 entered the Planning Research Section. He acted as a Legislative Liaison in Springfield for 2 years, and there are several laws now on the books that he helped prepare. Gordon was Safety Education Officer in 1962, promoted to Corporal in 1965 and became Assistant Director for the Safety Education Section. In 1973 he was promoted to Lieutenant and assumed duties of District 10 Field Operations Officer. He was promoted to Captain in 1976 and selected Director of Office of Inspections in Springfield. In 1978 he was assigned as Commander of District 12, Effingham and in 1979 Commander of District 10 where he remained until his retirement on December 31, 1988. Gordon was a member of Golden K Kiwanis, Illinois Chiefs of Police Association, member of Retired State Police Association and loved fishing and golfing. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran, serving in Korea.He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Donna of Decatur, IL; children Cindy Cross of Forsyth, IL, Brian J. Cleland of Decatur, IL, Danny Cleland and wife Sharon of Tuscola, IL, Tina L. Romine and husband Mike of Mattoon, IL, Jeff Cleland and wife Leigh Ann of Cedar Rapids, IA; grandchildren Duffy Cleland, Ashley Cross, Clint Cleland, Taylor Cross, Kelsey Cleland, Madison Cleland, Tanner Romine, Colton Romine; great grandchild Jaycee Lynn Cleland.He was preceded in death by his parents. "
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