A Life Remembered | For Villa Grove Machinist, Family Was Business

That Paul Cler, 97, died on Sunday — Father's Day — is somehow fitting, given that he sired nine children with his wife of 74 years, six of whom would follow him into his line of work. VILLA GROVE — It is somehow fitting that Paul Cler left this world on a day designated to honor fathers. He knew a lot about that, having sired nine children with his wife of 74 years. He was also the father of many inventions hatched in the machine shop that bears his name on the north edge of the Douglas County community he called home for most of his life. read more