Coleen McClanahan, a resident of Ames, Iowa passed away the evening of April 26, 2025, at the Northcrest Community in Ames. She had resided at Northcrest for over three years after retiring and selling her home in Ames. Coleen was born on March 16,1943 in Worthington, Minnesota to Carlos Mc McClanahan and Ella Catherine (Wiese) McClanahan. Coleen’s father operated a harness and shoe repair shop in Worthington, Minnesota. In 1953 the family moved to Lake Park, Iowa when she was in the fourth grade and her parents operated the Blair’s Coffee Shop. Carlos McClanahan had five sisters and two brothers. Coleen’s mother had four sisters and one brother. Coleen was an only child of parents who had been married 15 years before she was born. Coleen aways said she was very special to them. Coleen’s Dad passed away on the 26th of May 1960 when she was 17. Coleen graduated from Lake Park High School in 1961 and attended University of Northern Iowa to receive a B.A. and a M.A. from Iowa State University in education. During Coleen’s first year of teaching elementary school in Fort Dodge, her mother died on July 26, 1966.

Coleen advanced from elementary school teacher to Title One Coordinator at the Fort Dodge School central office. The Iowa Department of Education recruited her to apply for a Title One Consultant position. Coleen bought a house in Ames, Iowa and worked for the Iowa Department of Education for over 20 years as a Reading /Title One Consultant, Project EASIER manager and NAEP coordinator and lead consultant. The Title One program helped improve students reading skills. Project EASIER and NAEP helped highlight areas of educational improvement for teacher training.

Coleen was a committed educator who was well known across the state especially in her involvement in the Iowa Reading Association which presented her with awards throughout her career.

Coleen’s friends were many from around the state and in the Department of Education. Coleen had an outgoing personality that quickly drew friends around her. Her exceptional hospitality was appreciated by many friends who counted on her yearly Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year parties at her decorated house with excellent food and fun times as her quick wit always had people laughing and enjoying time with her. Many copied her recipes and used them at their own parties and would call them “Coleen’s recipes”.

Coleen loved to take her friends in her red 1968 Chevy convertible for trips around Iowa and was happy to go visit friends in New York and surrounding states. She loved her trip to China with Dept. of Education friends in 2007. These trips provided her stories that were enjoyed by everyone. Coleen had an infectious love of life, fun and a strong commitment to improving education that was apparent to everyone that knew and worked with her.

Those that preceded her in death are her parents and several of her cousins, aunts and. uncles.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday May 6th at the Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 Sheldon Ave., Ames. Viewing at 10:00 A.M. Service at 11:00 A.M. Refreshments will be served following the service. Burial will be in the Ames Municipal Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, please give to the Iowa Reading Association c/o Nancy Wright at 55491 230th Street, Glenwood, Iowa.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Coleen and her arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.rasmussonfh.com