Clara B. Cleaveland

Clara Belle Colby Cleaveland
May 7, 1932 – March 10, 2026
Age 93

Clara Belle Colby Cleaveland, 93, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026.

Born to George and Jesse Brown Colby on May 7, 1932. Clara grew up in rural Merrick County, Nebraska, where her education began in District 40 country school. She attended high school in Silver Creek, Nebraska, before her family moved to Clarks, Nebraska, after her family quit farming. During her high school years, Clara worked at the town café, Benders Grocery, and the local telephone office.

After graduating in 1950 from Clarks High School, she worked for four years as a bookkeeper and sales associate at the Farmers Union Larder and Creamery. In 1952, she met Clarence E. Cleaveland. After Clarence completed two years of service in the Korean War, he followed Clara—who had moved to Omaha, Nebraska—and they married on May 29, 1955. They shared nearly 65 years of marriage until his passing on December 26, 2019.

In the years following their marriage, Clara welcomed three sons: Ronald in March 1957, David in January 1960, and Gerald in April 1961. She then began a 32-year career at Mutual of Omaha, where she advanced through various roles including press operator, photolithography, document planning, and finally purchasing.

Upon retiring, Clara embraced a simple, joyful life filled with camping and traveling. She found great passion in reading, crafting, crocheting, and cross-stitching — activities that brought her comfort and creativity throughout her later years.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents, George Colby and Jessie Brown Colby; her sisters, baby Darlene Colby, Iva Colby Scott, and Margie Colby Anson; her brothers, Kenneth Colby, Earle Colby, Clinton Colby, Rex Colby, and Glenn Colby; and her beloved husband, Clarence E. Cleaveland.

She is survived by her sons, Ron Cleaveland of Omaha, David (Janie) Cleaveland of Omaha, and Gerald (LeeAnn) Cleaveland of Springfield, Oregon; her grandson, Collin Brown-Cleaveland of Omaha; many nieces and nephews and bonus grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation: Sunday, March 15, 2026, from 5:00–7:00 p.m., followed by a prayer service, at Braman Mortuary. Service: Monday, March 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at River of Life (formerly Bethany) Lutheran Church, followed by interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly requested to River of Life Lutheran Church.