Clarence “Bud” Elmer Van Lear, Jr.

Clarence “Bud” Elmer Van Lear, Jr., 77, of Buchanan passed away Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville, on Saturday, September 15, 2018.

Bud was born at Bonne Terre, Missouri, to Carrie Ethel, nee Howard, and Clarence Elmer Van Lear, Sr., on October 17, 1940.

Bud was raised in Leadwood, Missouri, and graduated from the Leadwood High School in 1958.  He then attended Flat River Junior College graduating from there in 1960.  On June 11, 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Janet Lucinda Middleton from Irondale, Missouri.  After working for the summer in Chicago, Illinois, Bud and Janet moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri where they both attended Southeast Missouri State College.  Upon graduation from SEMO in 1962, Bud taught for three years in the Cape Girardeau Public School system while earning a M.Ed. from the University of Missouri in the summer of 1965.

In September of 1965, Bud and Janet moved to Bellwood, Illinois, and Bud started teaching in the Western Springs School District 101, Western Springs, Illinois.  Moving to Western Springs in 1968, he served as elementary classroom teacher, reading consultant, elementary principal before taking a two year leave of absence and finally earning an Ed.D from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1984.  Upon returning to Western Springs, he served as a junior high school teacher, assistant junior high school principal, and interim junior high school principal.  During Bud and Janet’s time in Western Springs, their two daughters, Carrie Montene, and Rosanna Marie were born.

In 1986 when Janet was called as pastor of the Berkeley-Hillside Presbyterian Church, she and Bud moved to Hillside, Illinois.  Finally, finishing his tenure of 34 years in Western Springs back in the elementary classroom, Bud retired from public education in 1998.  Also, from 1988 to 2000, he served as an adjunct professor of education at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, where he taught evening classes and supervised student teachers.

Upon retirement, Bud lived for a while in Mishawaka, Indiana, and Edwardsburg, Michigan, before settling in Buchanan, Michigan.  Back in 1969, Bud joined Kiwanis.  He continued that membership in Indiana and Michigan.  Bud enjoyed singing, golfing, fishing, and traveling.  His trips to England, Scotland, and Cuba were important to him.  If you asked him about those trips, you needed to have a couple of hours to kill.

He is survived by Janet, his bride of 58 years, and two daughters:  Carrie Montene Van Lear of Buchanan, Michigan; Rosanna Marie Velat (Paul) of Chicago, Illinois, and countless extended family and close friends.

A memorial service will be held First Presbyterian Church in Niles on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. with a time of visitation one hour prior.  Interment will be private at the First Presbyterian Church columbarium.

Memorial donations may be given in Bud’s name to the Leadwood United Methodist Church of Leadwood, Missouri; to the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan, Michigan; to the Kiwanis Club of Niles, Michigan, for their “Boots for Kids” program; or to the First Presbyterian Church of Niles, Michigan; envelopes will be provided by the funeral home.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Posted On: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 2:53 PM