Alvin Lee Van Cleave

Alvin "Al" L. Van Cleave, 86 of Francestown, NH passed peacefully at Concord Hospice House Thursday, October 18th, 2018. Al was born in Pekin, Illinois and spent his childhood in Waukegan, Illinois.

If you'd asked Al what he was most proud of, he would tell you it was marrying his beloved wife, Joan Warner Lippincott. He met Joan at Earlham college in Richmond, Indiana before enlisting in the Navy from 1952-1956. Al and Joan were married in 1953 and moved their family to NH in 1971.

Alvin received his B.S. in Industrial Education from the University of Illinois. He later received his Master's in Education from Rutgers. He taught Mechanical Drafting at Nashua Voc-Tech College in Nashua, NH. Al proudly served on the Francestown Volunteer Fire Department for 43 years from 1973-2016. An avid woodworker, Al enjoyed creating beautiful projects for his family and neighbors.

Al was the son of Jesse Van Cleave and Eva Celeste Metcalf; brother to James Van Cleave, Rolland Lee Roy Van Cleave and Joyce Van Cleave. Al's family legacy was his pride including his children; David Van Cleave, Cindy Van Cleave, Andrew Van Cleave and his wife Lynn, grandchildren; Arianna and husband Tim Iappini, Rachel and husband Jesse Dampolo, Max, Madison and Ben Van Cleave, and great-grandchildren; Kian Dampolo, Kai Iappini, and Layla Dampolo.

Per the wishes of Al, no memorial services will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mount Crotched Firefighters Association, PO Box 221, Francestown, NH 03043