Robert "Bob" Lee McClellan passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in
Wichita, Kansas. He was born on August 28, 1929, in a farmhouse north of
Zurich, Kansas to Arthur Lee (Lee) and Meda Velma (Velma Pywell)
McClellan.
Bob grew up on the farm and graduated from Palco High School with
the Class of 1946. He went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree from
Fort Hays State College with a major in Mathematics. On June 20, 1953, he married Jo Eva Hinkhouse in Palco. They were blessed with four
children, Susan, Robin, Mike, and Roger.
Bob’s involvement with farming started from birth, and he spent most
of his college weekends commuting from Hays back to Rooks County to
help with planting and harvest. He took over sole management of the
farming operations when Lee McClellan died in 1963, and raised cattle,
wheat, and feed for most of his farming career. After living for a
short period near Green Mound right after their marriage, he and Jo Eva
moved into Palco in 1958.
As a child of the Dust Bowl, Bob was passionate about soil
conservation. He was an early proponent of terracing, no-till farming,
and other methods to prevent the loss of top soil. He served in
leadership roles in the Rooks County Soil Conservation District, the
Kansas Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the Kansas
Association of Wheat Growers, and the Kansas Wheat Commission. He and Jo
Eva were named Kansas Master Farmer and Homemaker in 1985.
Bob also gave back to his community in a myriad of other ways,
including through the Palco Lions Club, the Palco Economic Development
Committee), and support for 4-H and FFA. Bob was instrumental in
fundraising and planning for the construction of a new Palco United
Methodist Church in 1967 and served as a lay leader for many decades.
Bob’s involvement in the church choir was only one expression of his
love for music. Whether playing the guitar, trumpet, or banjo (often
with his good friend Harold Dennett) Bob “made a joyful noise” and
supported his children, grandchildren, and others in doing so. Bob sang
with the High Plains Barbershop Chorus for more than 50 years: if you
weren’t hit up by him to buy program ads or tickets to the annual
barbershop show you must have been hiding under a rock! Bob and Jo Eva
were elegant dancers, and for many years they were a mainstay of the
Rooks County Country Club dance scene, with Bob at times also
contributing the music as a member of the Spare Parts Band.
Bob and Jo Eva brought the world to Palco and their children through
hosting foreign exchange students from Iceland, Germany, Switzerland,
Japan, and Turkey. Jo Eva and Bob subsequently became enthusiastic
travellers themselves, with their trips to visit family, learn about
agriculture in other countries, and enjoy life taking them to every
continent except Africa and Antarctica. A cruise in the Inside Passage
off Alaska with all their children and grandchildren for their 49th
wedding anniversary was a particular highlight.
Bob is survived by his children Susan Beesley and husband Marvin of
Gove, Robin McClellan of Perth, Australia, Mike McClellan and wife Tammy
of Plainville, and Roger McClellan and wife Kristie of Wichita;
grandchildren Angela and Mark Justice, Cade and Jess Beesley, Megan and
Tanner Tuttle, Serena McClellan-Fuchs, Rachael McClellan-Whittle, Taylor
and Jonathan Krueger, Madison McClellan, Claire McClellan, Kathryn
McClellan, Stratton McClellan, Samantha McClellan, and Walker McClellan;
and great-grandchildren Riley, Cooper, Coy, Daylen, Piper Jo, Adley,
Cole, and Noah.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Eva (Hinkhouse) McClellan,
his parents Lee and Velma McClellan, infant son Donald Duane
McClellan, sister Dorothy Cokeley, son-in-law James Whittle, and
great-grandson Vinn Justice.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, at
Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Plainville. The Funeral Service will
be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 21, at the United Methodist
Church in Palco. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery near
Palco. Come prepared to sing in celebration of Bob’s life!
Memorials are suggested to the Kansas Wheat Commission Research
Foundation and the Rooks County 4-H Council, they may be sent in care of
Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SWS 2nd Street, Plainville, KS
67663.