Daniel Joseph McLaren

Daniel McLaren, 77, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Daniel Joseph McLaren was born on February 11, 1942, in Atlantic, Iowa, the son of Donald and Rosemary (Casey) McLaren. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Massena. Dan attended rural school, south of Cumberland, and graduated from Atlantic High School with the Class of 1960. Following graduation, he worked at Thriftway grocery store before enlisting in the United States Air Force on September 12, 1960. He was stationed at Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin, at which time he was deployed to Florida for the Cuban Missile Crisis, where his unit received the Presidential Unit Citation. In 1966, he was stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, until his return in February of 1968 when he became stationed at Griffis Air Force Base in Rome, New York. Dan was honorably discharged on September 12, 1968.

On September 8, 1962, he was united in marriage to Arlene Barnett in Monrovia, California. The couple was blessed with two children, Thomas and Dawn. Following their marriage, they moved to Red Oak, Iowa, and he was employed at AT&T Long Lines. In 1970, the family moved north of Bridgewater and Dan returned to farm with his cousin, James until 1984. After moving to Atlantic, he worked as a self-employed truck driver, spending a majority of those years with Atlantic Carriers. Never one to sit still, he also officiated high school softball, baseball and basketball for 15 years. In the fall of 2008, he semi-retired and began working part-time for Steve Jorgensen, the Iowa DOT, and several other local farmers.

He was a member of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Dan was also a member of the Adams County REC Board of Directors for eight years; serving as President. Life on the farm was a perfect fit because of his love for spending time outdoors. Time outdoors was made even better when he got to share it with his grandchildren. Dan also had a knack for fixing just about anything. He never knew a stranger and enjoyed striking up conversations with anyone he knew, talking about anything from sports to politics.

Dan is survived by his wife of 56 years, Arlene McLaren; children, Thomas (Sacha) McLaren of Atlantic and Dawn (Michael) Fulks of Fuquay-Varina, NC; grandchildren, Joshua (Emily) McLaren of Atlantic, Donald (Lacee) McLaren of Fort Dodge, Michelle (Jeremy) Blake of Atlantic, Logan Steffens of Atlantic, and Bailey Steffens of Atlantic; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Gavin, Benny, Haylee and Kynlee McLaren; sister, Sue Simon of Falls City, NE; brothers, Dick (Diann) McLaren of Atlantic and Charles “Chuck” (Mary) McLaren of Atlantic; brothers and sisters-in-law, Marilyn McLaren of Lewis, Orville (Sally) Barnett of Monrovia, CA, and Beverly Smith of Bellingham, WA; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Rosemary McLaren; brother, Paul McLaren; his father and mother-in-law Henry and Naomi Barnett; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Vivian (Bob) Manning and Herman (Gloria) Barnett.

A rosary service will be held at Roland Funeral Home on Thursday, March 14th at 5:30 p.m., followed by visitation with the family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m., at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. A private family burial, with military honors by Offutt Air Force Base and the Atlantic Color Guard, will be held in the St. Timothy’s Reno Catholic Cemetery, south of Cumberland.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Dan’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

In His Loving Memory
Daniel J. McLaren

BORN
February 11, 1942 - Atlantic, Iowa

ENTERED INTO REST
March 9, 2019 - Omaha, Nebraska
At the age of 77 years & 26 days

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
11:00 a.m., Friday, March 15, 2019
SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church - Atlantic, Iowa

CELEBRANT
Father Chinna Devaraj

ALTAR SERVERS
Gavin & Jackson McLaren

LECTOR
Jackson McLaren

GIFT BEARERS
Josh, Emily & Benny McLaren

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Emily McLaren, Pat Marshall & Jerry Sieck

ORGANIST
Donna Muell

CANTOR
Diedre Casey

MUSICAL SELECTIONS
Processional - “How Great Thou Art” #494
Offertory - “Be Not Afraid” #608
Communion - “Whatsoever You Do” #670
Recessional - “On Eagles Wing’s” #611

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Chris Simon
Mike McLaren
Dustin McLaren
Darby McLaren
Nathan McLaren
Yusef Bridges
J.C. Van Ginkel
Bob Anstey

FLOWER COMMITTEE
Jerry and Tammy Wyman
Jake & Elaine Pelzer

PRIVATE INURNMENT
St. Timothy’s Reno Catholic Cemetery - Cumberland, Iowa

MILITARY HONORS
Offutt Air Force Base - Omaha, Nebraska
Atlantic Color Guard - Atlantic, Iowa

Dan’s family invites everyone to join them for lunch at
the Parish Center immediately following the service.