John Mark Cleland

John Mark Cleland died peacefully on February 7, 2022.  He was born on April 29, 1951 in Rochester, IN to Glenn Edward and Donna Castleman Cleland.  After his graduation from Rochester HS in 1969, he attended Purdue University, receiving a BS degree in Animal Science in 1973.  Later, he obtained a MS degree in Education.  On June 2, 1973, John married Judith (Judy) Fritsch in Anderson, IN.

John loved spending time with his family—his parents and siblings, his wife, his three children, and his seven grandchildren.  His parents were central figures in his life until their deaths and inspired many of his interests, including in agriculture and military history.  He enjoyed coaching, encouraging, and watching his sons (Chris and Brice) and daughter (Cecilia) participate in sports.  He enjoyed family vacations to the beach and to historic sites.  Recently his focus was on watching his grandchildren grow and learn.  He also was an avid fan of all Purdue University sports, a passion he passed down to his children.

John worked for Genetic Plus for 5 years partnering with Bob Bridge of Rochester.  Afterwards, he taught Biology for 31 years at Zionsville High School.  He was known for his upbeat personality, friendliness, and corny “dad jokes.” At ZHS, he also coached cross country and track for several years.  He loved following the athletic, academic, career and personal life successes of his athletes.

Agriculture, especially Animal Sciences, were key factors in his life.  While attending Purdue, John was a member of the Dairy Judging Team. In 2014, he was awarded the Department of Animal Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award.  After retiring from teaching, he authored a book on the history of the Purdue Creamery.  John was a 50-year collector of milk bottles, and, during the Indiana State Fair, he relished playing the role of the “milkman” at Pioneer Village.

John was a 47-year cancer survivor, of which he was immensely proud.  He was the first person to be successfully treated for testicular cancer with cisplatin, now one of the primary treatments for the disease.  After recovering from cancer, he strived to exude a “Carpe Diem” attitude for the rest of his life.  In 1980, he received Dick Lugar’s Fitness Festival Come Back of the Year Award.  In 2002, he was a torchbearer for the Winter Olympics and later was the first recipient of the IU Cancer Center Torchbearer Award. In 2004, he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Indiana governor.

John is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Judy Cleland of Indianapolis; children, Christopher (Jessica) Cleland, Brice (Alyssa) Cleland and Cecilia (Daniel) Cahall; grandchildren Ezekiel, Naomi, Cora, Titus, Evadean, Vera and Bridie; brother Larry (Judy) Murfitt; and sister Linda (Lynn) Morris.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Donna Cleland.

The family is requesting that a MASK MADATE be honored and respected during the memorial calling and the mass.

Friday February 18, 2022 there will be a memorial gathering at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church from 4 to 8 pm.  Saturday February 19, 2022 there will be a mass celebrated in honor of John at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of John because he was a true trailblazer in Indiana University’s development of a cure for testis cancer and was first patient ever cured of the metastatic testis cancer. The John Cleland Fellowship Fund has been created to honor John and promote ongoing testis cancer research conducted by IU oncology trainees. Please make checks payable to: IU Foundation/John Cleland Fellowship and mail to IUF; PO Box 7072; Indianapolis, IN 46207-7072. Indicate “In memory of John Cleland” on the memo line. You may also make gifts online at https://cancer.iu.edu/einhorn/testis-cancer-research. All gifts in memory of John Cleland will be routed to the fellowship fund named in his honor, or to Purdue University’s Blaine Crowl Scholarship in Animal Sciences Endowment and the Cleland Family Endowment for the Purdue Dairy Challenge Team for memorial contributions in memory of John Cleland.   Please make donations online https://connect.purdue.edu/imocleland or make donations payable to Purdue Foundation and mail to Purdue Foundation, 403 W. Wood Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 or to the Zionsville Community High School Long Distance Running Scholarship Fund ATTN: Athletic Department 1000 Mulberry Street Zionsville, IN 46077.