May 13, 2024

Margaret M. McClaren

Creston

Margaret M. McClaren, 83, of Creston, formerly of Grand Island, Nebraska, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.

Margaret M. McClaren, 83, of Creston, formerly of Grand Island, Nebraska, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (Contributed )

Margaret Mary (Malone) McClaren, 83, of Creston, formerly of Grand Island, Nebraska, entered into eternal rest Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, at Homestead Memory Care of Creston, with daughter Michelle by her side. She is now reunited in heaven with husband Jim, son Mike, sister Roselee, brother John and her parents, as well as many other family and friends whose memory she cherished.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island. The Rev. Richard L. Piontkowski will be the celebrant. Interment will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery immediately after mass. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at Curran Funeral Chapel, with a vigil service at 7 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to Central Catholic, Salvation Army or Crime Stoppers. Powers Funeral Home and Curran Funeral Chapel are assisting the family. Your thoughts and prayers may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Margaret’s obituary.

Margaret was born Nov. 13, 1940, to John Dixon and Clara (Rodabaugh) Malone in Des Moines. Growing up, Margaret lived in Michigan and in a house built by her father in Des Moines. Margaret and family landed in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1952. She graduated in 1958 from Cathedral High School.

Margaret bought her first horse in 1954 and continued to be an avid horse lover throughout her life, raising, training and riding primarily quarter horses. Margaret met James G McClaren in 1958 and they dated for two years. They were married June 4, 1960, at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha.

Margaret graduated from Creighton University in 1962 with a BA, majoring in sociology with a minor in psychology. This was the start of a career path as a social worker.

In 1964, Margaret and Jim loaded up the car; the horse trailer with the yearling filly she had just bought; their newly adopted baby daughter, Michelle Marie; their dog, and their cat and headed for North Platte, Nebraska. Adopted baby son, Michael James, arrived in 1965.

In 1968, the move to RR3, Wood River, Nebraska, was made. In July 1976, Margaret started work for the Hall County Welfare Department for protective services for children, first as a caseworker and later as a supervisor for NDHSS. She loved her job and excelled at it. She retired in 2001 after 25 years of outstanding leadership, forming many lifelong friendships with coworkers and positively impacting the lives of countless children. Jim and Margaret moved to Pheasant Drive in Grand Island in 1983.

Margaret became a widow Feb. 12, 2007, losing her companion and best friend of almost 47 years of marriage. Margaret also tragically lost her son Michael June 23, 2009, in a motor vehicle accident.

Margaret kept busy attending duplicate bridge lessons, a grief group, Tai Chi classes, Cathedral Ladies meetings, bridge groups, Investment Club, community concerts, Crime Stoppers Board meetings and Admirals meetings and being an Adult Basic Education volunteer tutor.

Margaret sold her house and moved to Creston in July 2016 to be closer to daughter Michelle.

Margaret grudgingly moved into Homestead Assisted Living in February 2022, as progressing dementia made independent living unsafe. She moved to Memory Care in September of this year. Margaret was admitted to hospice care on Sept. 27 and put up a valiant fight to the end.

Margaret was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband, James (Jim) McClaren; beloved son, Michael (Mike) McClaren; half-brother, John Malone; sister, Roselee Siegler; parents and grandparents.

Margaret is survived by daughter, Michelle (Larry) Hicks; daughter-in-law, Shanda McClaren; grandchildren, Chase (Stephanie) McClaren and Tanner (Kayla) McClaren; stepgrandchildren, Brooke (Drew) Dornack and MacKenzie Harwood; great-grandson Waylon McClaren and stepgreat-grandchildren: Brayden Glass, Jordyn Goodloe, Garrett Dahl (Callie), Dylan Dornack, Brynn Dornack, Joslyn Dornack, Alexandra Harwood, Michael Harwood and Kennedy Harwood. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Frank Siegler; nephews: Chris (Brenda) Siegler, Bill Siegler, John Malone (Kerry Zachariasen) and David (Martha) Malone; nieces: Susan Siegler (Ronnie Gurley), Margaret (Larry) Mills and Mary (Scott) Watry and several great-nieces and -nephews.