Memorials › James Edward "Jim" Van Cleave Jr

James Edward "Jim" Van Cleave Jr

17 Aug 1940 – 30 Dec 2009

Birth17 Aug 1940
Death30 Dec 2009
CemeteryHighland Cemetery
Great Falls , Cascade County , Montana , USA
Added byPenny Jo on 17 Apr 2012
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46342220

Bio

James Edward Van Cleave Jr., 69, of 2027 5th Ave. S., a broadcast engineer and Army veteran, died of lung cancer Wednesday at a local hospital. James is survived by his wife, a son, , a granddaughter, 2 sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, uncle, 2 cousins, and numerous extended family and friends. James was born Aug. 17, 1940, in Great Falls, Mont. He was raised in Choteau and Fairfield, attending school in Choteau until the middle of his senior year, when he joined the Montana Army National Guard, where he earned his G.E.D. From there he joined the regular Army and attended the U.S. Army Armor School, where he learned armor radio maintenance. He earned a diploma from the U.S. Army Signal School, and became part of the signal corps (communications). Jim, as he was known to most, was also stationed in Vietnam as part of the Mac V Defense Force Radio Operator Co. In 1969, he held the rank of SP5. Jim spent time in Ethiopia, France, Germany, the U.K., and many other places while with the Army. When he returned to Great Falls, he worked for Sullivan's Electronics repairing radios, CBs, TVs and all forms of broadcast communications and electronics, which would become his life. Next he would meet the love of his life, Mary (Csaki) Drabert, who would become Mrs. Van Cleave in 1975. Jim, who was commonly known as "Gopher", his C.B. name, because he operated out of his basement (the Gopher Hole), would gain a 14-year-old stepson and have one of his own in 1976. In 1982, he joined KRTV and became a broadcast engineer for the next 22 years. Jim would maintain and repair anything that needed it from transmitters and station equipment to the microwave dishes, he would climb transmission towers - you name it, he fixed it. Jim also was engineer and transmitter man for KGPR public radio. He retired from KRTV at the age of 62, and continued to work for public radio until age 65. He was a member of the NRA and the American Legion. Jim, who became known as "Dr. Video" spent his retirement years as busy as ever, constantly upgrading his computer, working on projects, and once built a windmill from 2x4's and plastic buckets - and it actually worked. Jim was a caring and loving husband, father and grandfather. He was an avid reader his entire life and enjoyed life. He would help anybody anyway he could, and his knowledge was endless. The last few years of his life, the 33 years of diabetes and 50 years of smoking were beginning to catch up to him. Jim had mounting health problems, surgeries, he lost a leg, had many specialized doctors, and then cancer. He never gave up. Through God's grace and his iron will, he lived longer then most doctors could believe, and was doing fairly well until the last few months. Jim was a contributor to the Rolling Dog Ranch for disabled animals and loved his cats, King George and later Princess Sweety Pie, who would cuddle with him every night. Jim enjoyed e-mailing people and sending pictures, and staying connected to everyone who knew him. He was quite a character you won't soon forget. His spirit is now free from the body he fought so hard to keep. He recently asked God for forgiveness and, in turn, heaven opened up and he was called home. He was preceded in death by a stepson, William James Drabert; his mother, Ruby Trackwell; and his father, James Edward Van Cleave Sr. Complete obituary published in Great Falls Tribune 1-3-2010.

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