Donald “Don” R. McClellan

Donald “Don” R. Mc-Clellan, 101, of Palmer, passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul.

Funeral services were held on Friday, September 13, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in Palmer.

Pastor Serene Samuel officiated.

Musical selections included “Buy Dirt” and “Until We Meet Again.”

Pallbearers included Michael McClellan, Cody McClellan, Heath Mc-Clellan, Zach Kostbahn, Eric McClellan, and Rob Edwards.

Honorary pallbearers were Amy Edwards, Mikayla Kostbahn, Fallon Tamayo, Holly Carlson, Marissa Timmerman, Mariah Ehrman, Kylee McClellan, Karlee Mc-Clellan, Morgan McClellan, and the late Travis Hansen.

Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery in Palmer, with military honors provided by the Palmer American Legion Honor Guard and the United States Marine Corps Funeral Honors team.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Legion Club in Palmer.

Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in Palmer is assisting Don’s family.

Donald was born on August 9, 1923, to Earl and Mary (Hunt) McClellan, in Palmer.

He grew up in Palmer and attended elementary school at District 60 Country School. He graduated from Palmer High School in 1941.

He entered the United States Marines in May of 1944 and was honorably discharged in August of 1946. Don was united in marriage to Delores Ann Fairbairn on September 22, 1951, in St. Paul.

The couple farmed and raised their children, Ron, Roger, Larry, Deborah, Donna, and Diane.

Don was a member of the Burton-Beyer American Legion Club – Post 120 and the Forty and Eight (patriotic organization of United States veterans). He truly loved being a farmer. His hobbies included playing cards, woodworking, and tinkering around the farm. He also had his pilot’s license. His greatest enjoyment in life was attending the activities of all of his children and grandchildren and playing with his great-grandchildren.

Those left to cherish Don’s memory include his sons and daughtersin- law, Ronald and Jean McClellan of Quincy, Illinois, Roger and MaryAnna McClellan of Palmer, and Larry and Nancy McClellan of Palmer; daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah Hansen of Sac City, Iowa, Donna and Steve Stec of Hastings, and Diane and Jeff Kostbahn of Grand Island; brother, John McClellan of St. Paul; sister-inlaw, Jane Kasson of St.

Paul; grandchildren and spouses, Michael and Kelli McClellan, Cody McClellan, Heath and Alexa McClellan, Eric McClellan, Amy and Rob Edwards, Mikayla Kostbahn, Zach and Elise Kostbaun, Fallon and Jesus Tamayo, Holly and Adrian Carlson, Marissa and Austin Timmerman, Mariah and Alex Ehrman, Kylee McClellan, Karlee McClellan, and Morgan McClellan; great- grandchildren, Rowan and Miles Mc-Clellan, Thea McClellan, Zoey and Eli Kostbahn, Savannah Edwards, Keean Tamayo, Miriam, Veronica, and Loretta Carlson, Karter, Hudson, and Brodie Timmerman, and Brielle Ehrman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Delores; infant son, Roy; grandson, Travis; great-granddaughter, Rylee; brother and sister-in-law, William “Bill” and Dolores McClellan; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ethel and Bob Fairbairn and Irene and Bus Johnson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, James Kasson, Elaine McClellan, Carl and Arlene Henningsen, and Mike and Marge Schmidt.

The Phonograph-Herald | September 18, 2024