Official Obituary of
Robert Alvin McClelland
October 4, 1944 ~ November 17, 2015 (age 71) 71 Years Old
Robert McClelland Obituary
Robert A. (Bob) McClelland, 71, formerly of Menomonie, died at his home in Georgia with hospice care on November 17 of a rare, aggressive cancer attributed to Agent Orange exposure while deployed with the U.S. Army in the Republic of South Vietnam.
Born to Alvin and Esther (Lierman) McClelland on October 4, 1944, Bob grew up on a dairy farm a few miles east of Menomonie. He attributed his work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit to his farming background. He especially enjoyed planting and harvesting crops.
Bob graduated from Menomonie High School and Gale Institute in Minneapolis. He later earned a Bachelor's degree in Technology Education and a Master's degree in Training and Development from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
While stationed at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, he met Susan Dianne Wilson and a lifelong love affair began that lasted 47 years. They were married in 1968 in Atlanta, just a month before he left for Vietnam. When he returned, they began their life together in Athens, Georgia where Bob managed a furniture store and they welcomed their first child, Jennifer. He also managed stores in Gadsden, Alabama and Warner Robins, Georgia where their son, Rion, was born. In 1975, his father became ill and the family moved to Menomonie to help operate the farm. They later moved to Tampa, Florida where he owned and operated a landscape and lawn service. Here he branched out into home repair which he enjoyed immensely. In 1988 the family moved back to Menomonie to be close to his aging parents. He owned an insurance agency and later started a company where he provided pre-licensing and continuing education training for insurance professionals. In 2014 he moved to Georgia where he continued to work until he became ill in September 2015.
Bob embraced life and lived it to the fullest. His love for people was evident in his bountiful generosity - generosity with his time and with sharing of things. His was a life of selflessly serving others.
Bob was baptized in the Church of God in 1973 and ordained a deacon in 1976. Bob was a man of deep religious faith and character. For over 18 years, he and Dianne served the church as coordinators of church youth groups in Athens, Georgia, Gadsden, Alabama, Tampa, Florida and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He coached teams and coordinated fund raising and local activities. He planned and chaperoned many trips from the Florida Keys to the Boundary Waters of the U.S. and Canada and lots of places in between. He touched the lives of hundreds of young people.
Bob respected and cared for his father and mother. And the love he had for his children and grandchildren was such a huge part of Bob, that you could not know Bob if you didn't see and feel that love and pride and selfless warmth. What would Bob not do for his family? He would spare no part of himself to care for them.
Bob is survived by his wife, Susan Dianne, a daughter, Jennifer (Eric) Schindeldecker of Eau Claire, a son, Robert Rion (Hannah) of Athens, and beloved grandchildren Rowan Paul McClelland, Liam John McClelland and Rory Daniel McClelland, many cherished family members and a large church family.
He was preceded in death by parents, Alvin and Esther, in-laws, Raford and Agnes Wilson, niece Kristi Maxwell and baby brother, Roger.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, November 22 at the American Legion Hall, 309 Lee Street, Jefferson, Georgia with Mr. Bruce Gore officiating. The memorial service will begin at 2:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial with military honors will be at Jackson Memorial Gardens at a later date.
Condolences can be sent to the family at P.O. Box 220, Bogart, GA 30622.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce is in charge of the arrangements.
309 Lee St.
Jefferson, GA, 30549
309 Lee St.
Jefferson, GA, 30549
Born to Alvin and Esther (Lierman) McClelland on October 4, 1944, Bob grew up on a dairy farm a few miles east of Menomonie. He attributed his work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit to his farming background. He especially enjoyed planting and harvesting crops.
Bob graduated from Menomonie High School and Gale Institute in Minneapolis. He later earned a Bachelor's degree in Technology Education and a Master's degree in Training and Development from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
While stationed at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, he met Susan Dianne Wilson and a lifelong love affair began that lasted 47 years. They were married in 1968 in Atlanta, just a month before he left for Vietnam. When he returned, they began their life together in Athens, Georgia where Bob managed a furniture store and they welcomed their first child, Jennifer. He also managed stores in Gadsden, Alabama and Warner Robins, Georgia where their son, Rion, was born. In 1975, his father became ill and the family moved to Menomonie to help operate the farm. They later moved to Tampa, Florida where he owned and operated a landscape and lawn service. Here he branched out into home repair which he enjoyed immensely. In 1988 the family moved back to Menomonie to be close to his aging parents. He owned an insurance agency and later started a company where he provided pre-licensing and continuing education training for insurance professionals. In 2014 he moved to Georgia where he continued to work until he became ill in September 2015.
Bob embraced life and lived it to the fullest. His love for people was evident in his bountiful generosity - generosity with his time and with sharing of things. His was a life of selflessly serving others.
Bob was baptized in the Church of God in 1973 and ordained a deacon in 1976. Bob was a man of deep religious faith and character. For over 18 years, he and Dianne served the church as coordinators of church youth groups in Athens, Georgia, Gadsden, Alabama, Tampa, Florida and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He coached teams and coordinated fund raising and local activities. He planned and chaperoned many trips from the Florida Keys to the Boundary Waters of the U.S. and Canada and lots of places in between. He touched the lives of hundreds of young people.
Bob respected and cared for his father and mother. And the love he had for his children and grandchildren was such a huge part of Bob, that you could not know Bob if you didn't see and feel that love and pride and selfless warmth. What would Bob not do for his family? He would spare no part of himself to care for them.
Bob is survived by his wife, Susan Dianne, a daughter, Jennifer (Eric) Schindeldecker of Eau Claire, a son, Robert Rion (Hannah) of Athens, and beloved grandchildren Rowan Paul McClelland, Liam John McClelland and Rory Daniel McClelland, many cherished family members and a large church family.
He was preceded in death by parents, Alvin and Esther, in-laws, Raford and Agnes Wilson, niece Kristi Maxwell and baby brother, Roger.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, November 22 at the American Legion Hall, 309 Lee Street, Jefferson, Georgia with Mr. Bruce Gore officiating. The memorial service will begin at 2:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial with military honors will be at Jackson Memorial Gardens at a later date.
Condolences can be sent to the family at P.O. Box 220, Bogart, GA 30622.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation
NOV 22. 1:00 PM (EST)
American Legion Hall309 Lee St.
Jefferson, GA, 30549
Celebration of Life Service
NOV 22. 2:00 PM (EST)
American Legion Hall309 Lee St.
Jefferson, GA, 30549
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