Norman McClary

Norman Ray “Norm” McClary, 67, of Clear Lake died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A funeral service for Norman will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013 at the Clear Lake 

United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Avenue N., Clear Lake with the Rev. Bernie Colorado officiating.  Burial will follow in the Clear Lake Cemetery.

A visitation with a public viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013 at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th Street, Clear Lake.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Opportunity Village Special Needs Fund, 1200 N. 9th St. W, Clear Lake, or the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

Norman McClary, the son of Lester and Esther (Miles) McClary, was born Feb. 17, 1946 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  The family lived in Glenwood, Iowa, before moving to Clear Lake in 1947.  They shared their home with Norman’s uncle, Melvin McClary.  Norman grew up in Clear Lake and graduated from Clear Lake High School with the class of 1964.  

On May 7, 1993 Norman was united in marriage to Carol Fitzpatrick at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mason City.  The couple made their home together for 20 years in Clear Lake.  Norman and Carol particularly enjoyed traveling together, making trips to the Bahamas; Mazatlan, Mexico; Ireland; Las Vegas; and Alaska, as well as taking shorter trips on a circuit of coin shows each year.

He was employed at the Opportunity Village for 32 years in different departments as a personal assistant before retiring in December of 2011.  He also taught Sunday school classes at the Village for over 20 years.  

Norman enjoyed reading, coin collecting, history, traveling, and spending Monday evenings with his friend and cousin, Ralph Larsen.  He took special pride in being the owner of the Miles century farm south of Clear Lake.

Norman was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; father-in-law, Joe Fitzpatrick; brother-in-law, Mike Fitzpatrick; sister-in-law, Sheryl Fitzpatrick; nephew, Bryce (Suzanne) Fitzpatrick; niece, Tara (Phil) Dimitros; nephew, Kyle Fitzpatrick; his “second mom”, Gertrude Larsen, and her family, Ralph (Pat) Larsen, Pat Schultz, and Marvin (Janet) Larsen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapelwas in charge of arrangements.