William Henry Cleary, Sr.
Marriages
Alice B. "Pat" Kilmartin - September 27, 1948
In Colorado Springs, Colorado
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D In Memoriam - May 20, 2018
William H. Cleary January 18, 1925 - December 15, 2017
Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 29, at Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Grand Junction.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6A Death Notices - December 19, 2017
William Henry Cleary Sr., 92, Grand Junction, died Dec. 15, 2017, at HopeWest Hospice Care Center. Services will take place at a later date. He was a radio and television newscaster, and public servant. Survivors include six sons, William Henry Jr. of Denver, S. Daniel of Grand Junction, Timothy B. of Meeker, Martin K. of Falls Village, Connecticut, C. Patrick of Midlothian, Virginia, and Jonathan D. of Fredricksburg, Virginia; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions to Catholic Charities, 245 S. First St., Grand Junction 81501.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - December 31, 2017
William H. Cleary of Grand Junction passed away December 15, 2017, of natural causes. He was 92. Bill was born in Minneapolis, MN, on January 18, 1925 to David Dempster Cleary and Lela Carola Perrin. He was one of three sons; all preceded him in death. He spent his early years in Minneapolis, eventually earning a degree in Speech from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism. He received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy on July 30, 1945. Bill met Alice B. "Pat" Kilmartin during his early years in broadcasting while both worked at KRDO Radio in La Crosse, WI. They married on September 27, 1948, in Colorado Springs, CO. She preceded him in death on March 31, 2016. They had seven sons, William H. Jr., (Dianne), of Denver; Stephen Daniel, (Linda), of Grand Junction; Timothy Brian of Meeker; Martin Kilmartin, (Jammie), of Falls Village, CT; Christopher Patrick, (Kelly), of Midlothian, VA; and Jonathan David, (Lilliana), of Fredericksburg, VA. A seventh son, Matthew Michael (Rossana), died in Northern Virginia in 1984. Bill had 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Bill spent the majority of his career in public service, beginning in 1961, when he left his job at KREX television in Grand Junction to go to work for then U.S. Rep. Wayne N. Aspinall, D-Palisade. He moved his family to Arlington, VA, and stayed, eventually running the Washington D.C. offices of U.S. Rep. James Johnson, R-Fort Collins, and U.S. Rep. Hank Brown, R-Greeley. Bill returned to Grand Junction in 1982 to serve as executive director of Club 20. He then served a four-year stint as a member of the Colorado Highway Commission, representing the Western Slope. He eventually fully retired in the early 1990’s. A devoted family man, Bill, and Pat traveled extensively to visit their sons and families. The sons returned the love, looking after them both to their dying breaths. Bill carried himself with dignity and respect and a profound sense of humility. He had a wit as dry as a Western Colorado rain. The family is forever grateful to the professionals and friends in the Grand Valley and beyond who kept them well and stayed in touch. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 29, 2018, 3:00 p.m., at Veterans Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities of choice.
