Lyle E. McClellen, 87, of North Platte, NE went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at his home, surrounded by his loving wife, children, and family.
Lyle was born in North Platte, NE on June 19, 1936, the son of Floyd O. and Opal (Kugler) McClellen. He married Kathryn Grandgenett on December 23, 1957 in Bellevue, NE and together they had eight children.
He grew up in North Platte and graduated from North Platte High School. Lyle was a veteran of the U.S. Army enlisting on October 11, 1956 in Ft. Campbell, KY, and was honorably discharged on July 17, 1958 at Ft. Campbell, KY. He worked for a short time at Fairmonts Dairy in the production department. He then went on to a 26-year career with the U.S. Postal Service serving as a postal clerk, retiring in 1992.
Lyle was a devout and faithful Catholic and member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Platte. He was an active life member of the St. Patrick’s Knights of Columbus council 1211 since 1957. He volunteered as a boy scout leader, baseball coach, football assistant coach, and was one of the original founders of the local food pantry (25+ years). He and Kathryn were foster parents, loved to travel together especially for six years in Arizona. Lyle was a golf enthusiast, enjoyed casinos, playing in card clubs, woodworking, and was a skilled handyman. Lyle will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Those left to cherish Lyle’s memory are his wife of 65 years, Kathryn; children, Deborah (Christopher) Keith of Fountain, CO, Karen (Terry) Waite of North Platte, Catherine Hiatt of Lincoln, Roger (Pamela) McClellen of Charleston, S.C., Larry (Shãna) McClellen of Lincoln, John (Brenda) McClellen of North Platte, Loretta (Ben) Pavelka of North Platte and Michelle (Mark) Pieper of Lincoln; including 70 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Opal and Floyd McClellen; in-laws, Maurice and Amanda Grandgenett; brothers, Rich and Gerald (Mary) McClellen; brother and sister in-laws, Maurice Grandgenett, Mike and LaDonna Housh; son-in-law, Gilbert Hiatt; and grandson, Brett McClellen.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Joseph Kadaprayil as celebrant. Burial with military honors will follow at a later date in Fort McPherson National Veterans Cemetery near Maxwell. Memorial visitation will be from 1-7 pm, with the family receiving friends will be from 5-7 pm on Friday, October 27th at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which has been entrusted with the arrangements. Rosary prayers be recited at 6:30 pm.
Memorials in lieu of flowers, in his memory may be made to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or to the Callahan Cancer Center.
Online condolences and expressions of sympathy and for a live feed of the services may be accessed and shared with the family at www.carpentermemorial.com.