Elaine E (Moog) McClellan

Elaine McClellan, guided by her heavenly angels, left this world to meet her Lord and Savior on September 12, 2019.

Elaine Marguerite (Moog) McClellan was born at home in Rockville, NE to Edward H. and Marie C. (Hehnke) Moog on October 12, 1939.  The family moved to Shelton, NE when Elaine was 18 months old, where she grew up and graduated from Shelton High School in 1957.  She attended the St. Francis School of Nursing, graduating in 1960, and worked at St Francis Hospital.

On December 3, 1961, she married John H. McClellan from Palmer, NE at the Shelton United Methodist Church, where she had been a member since joining with her family in 1946.  They lived in a farmhouse in Gage Valley by Palmer until moving to St. Paul in 1964, where they continued to make their home.

Elaine was employed by the Howard County Community Hospital, now called Howard County Medical Center in January 1962 retiring in December 2014.  She loved being a Registered Nurse and cared deeply for her co-workers, making many lasting friendships.  She was the Surgery Supervisor and saw many changes in health care during her career.  She was the recipient of the first Caring Kind Award that the hospital presented and was one of the original St. Paul EMT’s serving for 12 years.  Elaine worked alongside her husband in maintaining their apartment properties since 1969 (family stating she cleaned with her toothbrush and paring knife) and also kept the books for his business, McClellan Builder & Contractor.

Elaine was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and served in many capacities, including being a building committee member overseeing the building of the new church in 1990.  Recently she enjoyed leading the Adult Sunday School class and was a member of the United Methodist Women and the Martha Circle.

Music was extremely important throughout her schooling and entire life, always encouraging her grandchildren in music.   One of her highlights of the Christmas season was her grandsons, J.T. and Cole singing for Christmas Eve church services for the past few years.  She fulfilled a dream by singing with these grandsons for church.  She shared her voice at weddings, funerals, community events, and church choirs in Shelton and St. Paul.  She was always interested in her children’s’ and grandchildren’s activities, trying never to miss any event they participated in.

Elaine loved to share with others and knitted 70 Christmas stockings for family and friends over the years, starting with her own children.  She was known for her Apricot Koffee Kringle (her mother’s recipe) and shared them with family and friends over the years.   She loved her family, friends, church and hospital.

Survivors include: Husband John, three children; Cynthia (Cindy) Sue McClellan of Aurora, Julie Kay Wetherington of Aurora, and Jeffrey Earl McClellan of Hastings.  Grandchildren are John Travis (Ashton) Wetherington, William Cole Wetherington of Aurora, NE, Karson Riley McClellan and Madelyn Marie McClellan of Hastings, NE. Sister-in-law Irene Johnson of Ankeny, IA, brother-in-law Donald McClellan of Palmer, NE and numerous nieces and nephews.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, son-in-law William Keith Wetherington, brother and sister-in-law Delbert and Nola Moog, sister and brother-in-law Kathleen and James Lowe, stillborn brother, brother and sister-in-law William and Dolores McClellan, sister-in-law Delores McClellan, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Robert and Ethel Fairbairn, and brother-in-law Harry Johnson.

Visitation will be on Thursday, September 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in St. Paul, NE. Memorial services will be held on Friday, September 20 at 11:00 a.m. with lunch following.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Howard County Community Hospital Foundation, United Methodist Church of St. Paul, and St. Paul Volunteer EMT’s. 

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