Frank C. Mcclenahan

Frank Clifton McClenahan, Lt. Col. (ret) USAR, died peacefully on March 3, 2015 at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, after a brief illness. Frank lived a full life of 95 years, the last 64 of them with his wife Ella. They were long-time residents of the south suburbs, Frankfort, Crete and Park Forest, Illinois and maintained a home in Minocqua, Wisconsin as well. In addition to his wife, Ella, he is survived by three children, Marcia, David, and Mary (Christopher Fielding); five grandchildren, Laura and Sarah McClenahan, Jack McCabe and Hadley and Declan Fielding; and three nieces, Suzanne Vondruska, Linda Shaner and Carol Reiff.

Frank grew up in the small farming community of Toulon, Illinois, the son of Dr. Frank C. McClenahan, a dentist, and Lucille Blanche Cary McClenahan, a community volunteer. He graduated from high school in 1937 and matriculated at the University of Illinois where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1941. On the day of his graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army. The summer of 1941 he entered training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and by May of 1944 was promoted to Captain. From 1944-1946, he served with the 316th Field Artillery Battalion, 81st Infantry Division Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operations and was awarded two Battle Stars (Western Carolines Campaign and Phillipines Campaign.) From 1946-1951 he served with the US Army Reserve in Peoria, Illinois and was recalled to active service in 1951.

He married Ella in May 1951 and in the fall of that year they moved to Germany where he served until November of 1954 and was promoted to Major. Frank continued his service stateside until 1959 at which time he was assigned to the U.S. Army Military Advisory Group to the Republic of China, Taiwan until 1961 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. From 1963 to 1964 he served in Viet Nam as an Advisor to the Army of the Republic of Viet Nam. Upon his return to the U.S. he was based at Fort Sheridan, Fifth U.S. Army Headquarters and retired from active service the fall of 1966 and transferred to the US Army Retired Reserve. From 1967 until his retirement in 1984, he worked with the Chicago High Schools Junior ROTC program as a Supervisor, Acting Director and Assistant Director.

During their retirement years, Frank and Ella enjoyed spending the winter months golfing in Arizona and puttering around their lakeside home in Wisconsin over the summer months. They were long time members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Park Forest. In addition to serving his church community, Frank coached little league baseball, ran marathons, played bridge and was a voracious reader of Civil War history, biographies and popular fiction. He was seldom seen without his trusted newspaper with the crossword puzzle page open and a cup of black coffee by his side. His children and grandchildren can attest that his love of physical exercise, reading and working crossword puzzles kept his mind sharp and curious until his last days.

Frank will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved him. Friends are invited to visitation at the Kurtz Memorial Chapel
65 Old Frankfort Way Frankfort, IL 60423, on Friday March 6 from 4-8 p.m. and to attend funeral services on Saturday March 7 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2901 Western Avenue, Park Forest, Illinois at 10 a.m.
The burial with full military honors will be held at 4 p.m. at the Toulon Cemetery in Toulon, Illinois located on Illinois Highway 91. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders or Lutheran World Relief in his memory.