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Alan McClenathan Obituary
Guernsey
Alan Harold McClenathan, 83, of Guernsey, passed away on February 25, 2026, at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines.
A funeral service was held at 10:30 am on Monday, March 2, 2026, at Victor United Methodist Church in Victor, IA. A graveside service was held immediately following the service at Victor Memorial Cemetery. A luncheon followed the graveside service back at Victor United Methodist Church.
A visitation was held from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, March 1, 2025, at Smith Funeral Home in Victor, IA.
Memorial donations can be directed to the family for donation to the Victor United Methodist Church and Eastern Iowa Honor Flight mailed in c/o Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 485, Victor, IA 52347.
Alan was born April 1, 1942, in Grinnell to Harold and Alice (Eggert) McClenathan. He grew up on the family farm south of Ladora. He attended county school Hartford #7 until 3rd grade, then graduated from HLV in 1960. He proudly served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War on a cargo supply ship as a fire control technician. After the Navy he returned to farm with his father and brothers in Iowa County.
In June 1969 he was united in marriage to Bette Bradke in Central City. They had 2 daughters, Sara and Susan.
While farming he sheared sheep in Poweshiek and surrounding counties for 23 years. He then worked at the Brooklyn- Guernsey Elevator doing grain work and millwright. After he retired, he worked for RS Welding as a welder. He was a 4-H leader and the Sheep Superintendent at the Poweshiek County Fair. He enjoyed going to sheep shows at the county and state fair.
He enjoyed attending the girls' and grandkids' school and sporting events. He was an avid hunter of deer, turkey and pheasants. He especially enjoyed joining his brother Eugene in Colorado to hunt elk. When he could no longer hunt, he enjoyed trout fishing. He enjoyed collecting railroad memorabilia.
He and Bette enjoyed taking bus trips and road trips to find a new trout stream or visiting the Freedom Rocks throughout Iowa. In 2024, he went on the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight with Susan. He was a member of the Victor Legion and Victor United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Bette. Daughters Sara (Ritchie) Kracht, Hannibal, MO, Susan (Shane) Kiesner, Altoona. Grandchildren Trace (Tino), Megan (Cooper), Kyle (Reagan) and Brandon (Rylie) and Great-Grandson Baylor. Sister Beula (Bob) Dvorak, Mt. Vernon, Brother Eugene (Beth) McClenathan, Nekoosa, WI, Sisters-in-law Dotty Plowman, Brooklyn and Karen Trimble, Marion; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eldon, brother-in-law Dan Trimble and niece Jane Smith.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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