Harold Dean Clevenger Sr., 89, formerly of LaPaz and Bremen, died at 1 a.m. Sunday, March 11, at the Indiana Veterans Home in West Lafayette, where he has been a resident since 2007. He was born April 13, 1922 in Rochester to William Clevenger and Ruth (Richmond) and was raised by his mother and stepfather, Omar Gregory. As an adult, he lived in Kewanna, Inwood, Plymouth, LaPaz and Bremen before retiring to the Indiana Veterans Home. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Norman, Robert, and Harry Gregory; sisters Netha Croussore and Nettie Fry; and two great grandsons, Mason and Christian Trevino-Clevenger. Harold is survived by his wife, Charlotte Tomalavicz, at the Indiana Veterans Home in West Lafayette; Sons Harold (and Karen) of Walkerton, Larry (and Linda) of Inwood, and James (and Linda) of Bremen; Daughter Virginia (and Gary) Sullivan of Paulden, Arizona; Stepson Johann Backer of Mishawaka; and a sister Anna Mae Miller of Rochester. He also is survived by 17 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. He was inducted in the U.S. Army in October 1942 and was discharged in October 1945. Harold was a member of the elite WWII Merrill's Marauder's, specifically a "mule skinner" with the 31st Quarter-master Pack Troop, assigned to the 5307th composite unit and later to the 475th Infantry, first battalion. He was in combat and came under fire during the Battle of Myitkyina in Burma. He was honorably discharged with a Presidential Citation, a Bronze Star medal, WWII Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two bronze stars, an American theater ribbon, a good conduct medal, a Combat Infantry Badge. In rare U.S. Army film footage of the actual march across Burma, Harold can be seen leading a pack mule. This footage is featured in several televised documentaries about the Merrill's Marauders, including The History Channel's "Dangerous Missions: Merrill's Marauders," "Secrets of World War II," "Jungle Battle: Burma," and "The Approach to Myitkyina" by Combat Photographer David Quaid. Harold was very proud of this film footage. Harold was a retired boat builder, having built boats in Bremen; Key West, Fla., and Santa Cruz, Calif. He was also a proud member of the NRA, the Merrill's Marauders Association and the VFW. He loved camping, hunting, trapping, traveling, and meatball salads from Subway Restaurant. Memorial donations may be sent to the National Ranger Memorial Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 53369, Fort Benning, Georgia 31995. Graveside services will be held at the Indiana Veterans Home cemetery at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Hartzler Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston is handling the arrangements.