Catherine S. McClelland, 92, of Urbana died on Saturday March 17th at her apartment at Canterbury Ridge in Urbana with family by her side. She was born on August 27, 1919 in the hills of Jo Daviess County on the family farm in Elizabeth, Illinois to parents Charles Siemen and Ella Dittmar Siemen.

Catherine attended the Elizabeth town school from elementary through high school. At 10 she became a 4-H member and remained active most of her life. She enrolled at the University of Illinois in 1937 and pledged 4-H House sorority. She majored in Home Economics. She met Dan McClelland on campus and married him April 12, 1941 in St Charles, Missouri. He was an Army officer stationed at Pine Camp, New York and she joined him there upon her graduation in June.

She traveled with her new husband in many states with tours to Japan and Germany. During this time she had four sons Tom, Dan, Bruce and Doug. She returned with her family to Urbana in 1957. She and Dan spent many happy years raising their family while Dan worked at the University of Illinois. Throughout her married years she worked as an early childhood teacher, a childcare licensing professional, and a trainer/advisor for child development associate students. Catherine's home was always open to family, extended family and friends she treated as family. She also enjoyed cooking, gardening, knitting, playing bridge and traveling.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son Bruce, husband Dan and sisters Dorothy and Esther. Catherine is survived by her sons Tom (Dona) of St. Petersburg, FL, Dan (Robin) of Duluth, MN and Doug (Kristi) of Preston, WA; and grandchildren Charles (Sherri), Katy (Geoff), Liz (Steve), Dan III, Chad and Jacob. She is also survived by her nephew Pat (Connie) Gilmore and nieces Pam (Jon) Darrow, Sandy (Mark) Williams and Carol (Carl) Aronson, and their extended families.

Catherine and her family are especially grateful for the care and support provided by the staff at Canterbury Ridge and Carle Hospice.

Graveside services at 10 AM Saturday March 24th at Woodlawn Cemetery in Urbana followed by a 2 PM Celebration of her life at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1203 S. Green Street in Urbana.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family requests donations in Catherine's name to Carle Hospice at http://www.carle.org/Giving/Donate-Now.aspx