Ella M. Mcclenahan

Ella Miller McClenahan passed away peacefully at the age of 101 on Good Friday morning, April 7, 2023. Born in Mequon, Illinois, on December 24, 1921, Ella was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Frank Clifton McClenahan,Lt. Col. (ret) USAR, who passed away in 2015. Long-time residents of both Frankfort and Park Forest, Illinois, they also maintained a home in Minocqua, Wisconsin. She is survived by her three children, Marcia, David, and Mary (Christopher Fielding); five grandchildren, Laura Long (Austin), Sarah McClenahan, Jack McCabe and Hadley and Declan Fielding; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was the last surviving sister of seven daughters born to George J. and Swaneta (Nettie) Van Beuning Miller.

Ella grew up in a small farming community outside of Peoria and lived through the Great Depression. After graduating high school, she attended secretarial college in Peoria, working for the Pfister Hybrid Corn Company and serving as a Red Cross volunteer during WW II before her marriage to Frank in 1951. After their marriage, she and Frank were stationed in Germany, Taiwan and various military bases in the U.S., before settling in Park Forest in 1964. Ella worked for many years at the Park Forest Village Hall, and she and Frank were long-time members of Trinity Lutheran Church.

An ace bridge player, Ella played a friendly but fierce game of bridge. And friends and family will also remember her talent in the kitchen. There was always a race to the table to grab the last homemade pecan roll. In their retirement, she and Frank loved to golf and garden. Always a competitor, even after her days of playing 18 holes were over, Ella loved to challenge her grandkids to a game of miniature golf. Ella will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.

Family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort, IL 60423 on Tuesday, April 11th, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Graveside Service and interment, Tuesday, April 11th, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Toulon Cemetery, Toulon IL.