Max McClure

Harold “Max” McClure, age 83 of Grinnell and formerly of Tama, died on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at his home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, December 9, 2019 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Father Dennis Conway presiding. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Tama. A reception will follow at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the church beginning at 9:00 AM. Memorials may be designated to the Grinnell Police Department and Grinnell Fire Department, mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Max’s family online at www.smithfh.com. Harold Max McClure was born on April 19, 1936 in Belmond, Iowa to Roy Manford McClure and Eva (Theil) McClure. He was raised on the family farm east of Belmond and was educated at country schools near his home and Belmond public schools. Max honorably served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. On May 4, 1957, he was united in marriage to Helen Marie McNulty in Belmond. The couple moved to California shortly after the birth of their son, Marc and Max was employed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA). They moved back to Tama, Iowa in the early 1970’s and together they owned and operated McClure Agri-Systems. He also drove truck for Alan Ritchey hauling mail, where he received the safety award for 12 consecutive years and over a million miles of accident-free driving. Max and Helen were longtime members of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama, Iowa. He was a lifetime member of the VFW, where he was a past President, Treasurer and Trustee. He will be remembered as a hard worker, outdoorsman, and family man. Survivors include his two children, Marc (Kari) McClure of Osage, Iowa and Eva M. (Craig) Schroeder of Portland, Oregon; eight grandchildren, Jamie (Brady) Friesen, Matt (Sarah) Nekola, Doug (Destiny) Nekola, Jonathan McClure, Katelyn McClure, Helen McClure, Stephanie Schroeder, and Scott Schroeder; four great grandchildren; two sisters, Joyce Markham of Belmond, Iowa and Mary Ellen (Gene) Ersland of Menominee, Michigan; one sister-in-law, Jean McNulty of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen McClure on October 11, 2016; and brothers, Donovan and Robert McClure.