Akron, NY - Brian Kevin Cleveland, 43, of Akron, NY and formerly of Lansing, NY, passed peacefully surrounded in love by his family at Roswell Park Cancer Institute on July 15, 2010. Devoted and beloved husband of Kathryn (Pagels) Cleveland; loving father of Jonathan C. Cleveland and Colten V. Cleveland; cherished son of Sidney C. Cleveland and Sandra (Vincent) Cleveland; greatly loved brother of Lorraine A. Cleveland and Christine C. Crossgrove (James) and wonderful uncle of Cassandra L. Mazur, Benjamin D. Crossgrove and Kevin J. Crossgrove.Brian was born in Batavia, NY on March 28, 1967. He attended Albion Elementary School and was a 1986 graduate of Lansing High School and an outstanding swimmer for Lansing. Serving UPS as a delivery and feeder driver for 25 years, Brian demonstrated exceptional loyalty as an employee and co-worker. He married Kathryn at Roswell Park Chapel on February 14, 2008. He volunteered as a firefighter and was a member of the Lansing United Methodist Church in Lansing, NY. Brian was an avid hunter and fisherman, a member of The National Turkey Federation, North American Hunting Club and the NRA. He volunteered as an environmental educator and bow instructor for New York State. Brian will be remembered for his amazing kindness, generosity, sense of humor and deep love of family, friends and the great outdoors, especially in Allegany County, NY. Brian's courageous spirit will live on forever in the hearts of those who were closest to him. The family wishes to thank Dr. Meir Wetzler and the staff of Roswell Park for the remarkable and compassionate care that Brian received during the past three years.
A special Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 24 at 1:00 pm at the Akron Fire Hall. Friends and family may attend this luncheon to celebrate Brian's life and memory. At a future date, there will be a memorial service at the Lansing United Methodist Church in Lansing, NY. Interment and family gathering will take place in Allegany County, NY at a private memorial during autumn, Brian's favorite season. Those wishing to honor Brian can contribute to the Jonathan and Colten Cleveland Scholarship Fund, Financial Trust FCU, 3333 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com
My husband, my love, my life. I have been waiting for you. I know you will be waiting for me. Until then, you are in my heart, every minute of every day. Thank you for saving my life and giving me more happiness and love than I ever imagined. All my heart, Kathryn.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly a sad day losing Brian who fought so hard and so long and at such a young age, who had so much to look forward to. My condolences to my close friend Kathryn and the whole Cleveland Family. Brian never had a nasty thing to say about anyone, but only found good in everyone he met and always had that wonderful smile on his face. If everyone could have just a little of Brian in them, this world would be a much happier place to live. Good Bye my friend and may you find peace................
ReplyDeleteMay the blessings of love be upon you,
ReplyDeleteMay its peace abide with you,
May its essence illuminate your heart,
Now and forever more....
Oh Kathryn, I am so, so very sorry for your loss. Much love and hugs to you, Colten, and your family during this hard time.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want
ReplyDeleteHe makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake
Even though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death.
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Uncle Side, Aunt Sandra, Lorraine, Cassie,
Chris, Jim, Kevin and Ben:
Kathryn, Jon and Colten: Our prayers are with
you, our hearts are breaking for the loss of
Brian. Steve and I have such wonderful
memories of him as he grew up into such a
kind and happy man. Our family has a huge
part missing, but we sustain ourselves with
the thought that we will be reunited in our
heavenly home with Brian and he will be there
with his arms open and that beautiful smile.
kathryn my heart breaks for you and your family. i feel so blessed to have been able to meet and talk with brian at jay's party last year. he was a very remarkable man, you truely have a angel watching over you.
ReplyDeleteHope in Heaven's Day
ReplyDeleteGrief be mine, I ask you so, if not for you, I wouldn't know, How life once was and then be still, how so precious, that death do steal.
Because that grief, won't go away, Learn to let it have it's way. The link to love, a precious one, Is met with grief and still not done.
The days do come, and nights do go, Grief will stay as time is so. And so a loved one passes on, And grief comes in and carries on.
Does grief get better, I will ask, It's hard to say, while at its task. There is grief to help us cope, There is God to give us hope.
Grief will surely go away, On that glorious heaven's day. But while it's here, there's just one thing, Pray our Lord, for peace he'll bring.
Our thoughts are with you all.
I came to know Brian as we walked similar paths. With that we grew to know each other and spent time talking, listening, and helping each other thru what we had to do. Brain was a great man with an ease about him that I looked up to. Brain and I had a great day in the woods one fall where we both loved to be and I will cherish that memory forever. I was blessed to call him a true friend.
ReplyDeleteKathryn and all of Brian’s family please accept my deepest condolences.
Dale Adams
Brian - my brother-in-law & friend - you have taught me so much by your happiness, your kindness and all the goodness in you - you & Kathryn were meant to be together and will be together again someday. Words cannot express the heartache I feel over your loss, but I know that you are in a wonderful place and we will meet again. My prayers are with Kathryn, Colten & Jon and the rest of the family - we will always look after them. You'll be forever in my thoughts and prayers. Love you - your sister-in-law, Michelle and brother-in-law, Dan.
ReplyDeleteYou are all in our thoughts and prayers. May God grant you peace knowing Brian is well and in a wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteLove and God Bless,
Chris & Amy Bostdorff
Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteJoe and I will always remember seeing you,Colton and Brian at Gary Arceses' picnic. Brian was an absolutely amazing tower of strength. So happy and so in love with his family. I was completely amazed by him. He will be forever etched in our hearts and remembered in our prayers. Please know we are here for you and Colton Diana and Joe Ilecki
I grew up with Brian. We lived on the same street growing up. I have many fond memories of him. He was a really good kid, who was always kind to me. I am not surprised that he grew up to be such a good and loved man. My deepest condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteKathy so sorry to hear of your loss. Our hearts go out to you and your son at this time, take one day at a time. In our prayers and thoughts.
ReplyDeleteMaryAnn, John & Johnny Laffosse
I first met Brian when Kathy and he came to Georgia to visit me and my wife Alma. We went rock climbing and had a great day together. He was nervous and told me he was trying to make a good impression with me because Kathy clearly valued my opinion and he valued Kathy. Over the next few years, I saw Kathy become a different, 'wholer' person. I saw Brian and Kathys' relationship grow and I saw Brian seamlessly become a valuable, loved and important member of my family.
ReplyDeleteHe was a good man, a good father, a good husband and my friend. I often think back to our first meeting and wonder why my opinion of him was important when, it was obvious to me; he was always a better, kinder man then me.
He will be sorely missed and leaves a big hole in our collective family heart that will never be filled or forgotten. Find peace Brother and may your eternity be blissful.
Rick Pagels
Brother-in-law and friend
I only knew Brian through his cousin my wife Christina K.(Lambert) Williams. Chris would always read to me any update she got on Brian and prayed for him hard. Chris was struck with a rare cancer early in 2008 and we lost her in Sept of 2008. I still enjoyed seeing good updates on Brian and would think of Chris and cry as I read them because Brian was a fighter as was Chris. I would have loved to meet Brian but felt that I knew him through Chris and the updates from his Mother.
ReplyDeleteMay God be with his family so that they know Brian is in a much better place where he will have to fight no more. I am sure he and his cousin Chris have already had a good talk about Turkey hunting since they both loved it.
My God bless you all,
Robert E. Williams
Kathryn, Jon and Colten,
ReplyDeletePlease know you are in my prayers. Brian was such a good man - brave, loving and faithful. I remember the visible pride he took in Jon's accomplishments, the joy he took in holding Colten and the tender affection in his eyes whenever he spoke of Kathryn. You blessed him - this is clear. You helped him be strong and brave when he needed these qualities most. He is certainly one of the bravest people I've been privileged to meet. He stuck with a course of treatment that demanded everything from him. Doing so gave him the chance to live very deeply, even if for only three years. God knows we all wanted more, but I'm grateful he had this time and that you had this time with him. May you each find strength in God, each other and in your many, many friends.
Such a heartbreaker to hear of Brian's passing. We were so happy with the progress he had made and were looking forward to possibly seeing him back at work. His passing is such a great loss to family and friends. He will be sorely missed. God bless his family. My heart goes out to you all. Becky Walpole-Ithaca UPS
ReplyDeleteBrian was truely a very special person. To know him was to love him. I feel so blessed to have known him, especially as a close family member.
ReplyDeleteHe loved Kathryn, his sons, his family and his land with all his heart while he was here with us.
Now, as his love endures, I would like to share my thoughts on Brian's arrival home to be with Jesus:
I would expect that soon after he was escorted through the magnificent pearl gates of heaven he was warmly greeted by family he hasn't seen in years as an enormous choir of angels sing praise to the Almighty. After a brief reunion, Brian finds himself awe struck and filled with unspeakable joy as he falls to his knees in the presence of our mighty God. Brian's smiling face aglow from his Creator's divine light shining upon him. God then speaks these words, "Well done, good and faithful servant", now there are packages to deliver around the city. There is your truck, loaded and ready to go, it will be a smooth ride for the streets are paved with gold.
So with his new "body by Jesus", Brian jumps up healthy, strong and vibrant, runs to his shiny new truck and begins his very important work of helping to build the most amazing city in all of history, New Jerusalem. Of course, he has plenty of good help from his new friends; Moses, Jacob, Abraham, David and a really big guy named Sampson. After a hard days work, Brian is served an amazing meal and then relaxes, enjoying all his friends stories about seas parting and giants named Goliath.
Then he checks in with the guardian angels assigned to Kathryn, Jon and Colten for a report on the days events, thanking them profusely for the excellent care and protection they provide to his beloved family.
Lastly, Brian smiles contently when he hears God's reminder that the day is soon approaching when all his family and friends will be joining him.....BEHOLD, I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY: WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED - IN A MOMENT, A TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMPET. FOR THE TRUMPET WILL SOUND, AND THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED INCORRUPTABLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:51,52.
My condolences to Kathryn,Jon,Colton and the extended families. He will be sorely missed.I always felt blessed to be Brian's friend,he was truly a remarkable wonderful man. Brian always told me how much he cherished his family. Good Bye my friend and God Bless
ReplyDeleteI am so fortunate to have met Brian, Katryn and the Pagels family through my dear friend Melanie Watson. I immediately recognized what a caring and special person Brian was.... Brian, you will live forever through Kathryn, Colton and all who loved you !!!...
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts and prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteBrenda and Dave Moscicki
I will always cherish the time that Brian and spent together. Most of the time we spent together was in the woods which made us both happy. That was exactly the last place that I saw Brian and I couldn't think of better last memory to have of him. Both Jen and I are proud to have known such a caring, loving, and courageous person. Our condolences to Kathryn, Colton, and Jon. We love you all. God Bless.
ReplyDeleteKathryn, may God bless you and keep you. I know how happy Brian made you. Some times a person touches our lives for even a short time but changes us for ever. Brian was that person for you and many others. God Bless
ReplyDeleteI first met Brian and Jon at the family Christmas party at Uncle Kenny's when Vyarl and I came up from Texas. Vyarl really hit it off with Brian since they were the newest of the clan. I came to know Brian better the last two July's when I came home. Brian was such a rock and kind sweet man. He rode his bike all the way from his house to dad's he was so proud of himself, we were all stunned at his amazing accomplishment. I enjoyed our conversations on the phone and the times we got to spend together. Brian truly made Kathryn whole and has made her even more special and loved by her siblings. I have enjoyed the time getting to know Jon and Colten my nephews. I pray our two guardian angels will watch over us until we can meet them again to renew our kindred spirits. We love and will miss you Brian dear brother in law. My prayers go out to Brian's whole family. You will be sorely missed. Kim Martin
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to Kathryn and family.Matt Grande-- UPS Lockport
ReplyDeleteA son-in-law is also a son...it seems I have lost one of each. You will always be in our family!
ReplyDeleteThe magnituide of our loss of Brian is beyond the spoken word. The out pouring of love and support from so many gives us strength to face each new day. We could not have been closer to Brian but the journey of the past three years bonded us for eternity. His love of Kathryn,Jon and Colten was the basis of his being and his will to "never give up" throughout his treatment. Our never ending love and support to Kathryn,Jon and Colten will provide us a closer link to Brian's spirit. God blessed us with 3 wonderful children whose love for each other is a great source of strength.
ReplyDeleteBrian's spirit lives on in every dimension of our daily lives. Brian considered each day of life a gift from God!
Kathryn and family.....Although I never met Brian, he is the son of my cousin, Sidney Cleveland, and his wife, Sandra, I learned of his illness early on through Sandra and kept him in my prayers. He was a remarkable young man. I will keep you all in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteDiane Christman Richardson
Clearwater, FL