ROBERT H. MCCLELLAND JR>

Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial and a Celebration of Life service for Robert H. “Bob” McClelland Jr., 81, which will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Saturday, July 16, 2016, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Wilfredo Decal and the Rev. Noas Kerketta will co-officiate at the Mass. Readers will be Kristi McClelland and Cassie McClelland.
Musical selections comprised of “On Eagles Wings,” “Here I Am Lord,” and “Ave Maria” will be provided by Lee LeBlanc and Donna Connor. Visitation will be held the day of the funeral from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. until the services at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will take place at Morgan City Cemetery.
Robert McClelland III, Ralph McClelland, Robert McClelland IV and Chad McClelland will serve as pallbearers.
Surrounded by his loving surviving children, Bob peacefully departed this life to be with the Lord on Wednesday morning, July 13, 2016, at Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City.
Bob was a native of Baton Rouge where he was reared in the Roman Catholic faith. At a young age, he enrolled in St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, where he studied for the priesthood.
Upon leaving the seminary, Bob returned to Baton Rouge to complete graduation at Catholic High. Bob enrolled at LSU and later joined the United States Marine Corps where he served as a combat air-crewman during the Korean War.
In 1957, Bob settled in Morgan City to join the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Department, which he served honorably for many years.
Shortly after relocating to Morgan City, Bob met the love of his life, Wanda Barbier McClelland. Together they enjoyed a 58-year marriage and were the proud parents of four children. Bob was the consummate father and husband, guiding his children into adulthood by example and always, always loving his wife.
In 1973, Bob left the Sheriff’s Department for employment with Tidewater Marine as Worldwide Safety Manager. His employment with Tidewater ended upon his retirement in 1997.
Following retirement from Tidewater, Bob and his late wife, Wanda, traveled extensively in their motor home. Bob enjoyed telling stories about his life after Tidewater such as his job of waving at the train in Dollywood and serving as a greeter in Disneyworld.
Currently an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and formerly a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Bob served as a Eucharistic minister for many years. He trained altar servers and was active with the Holy Cross CYO.
A member of the Marine Corps League, Bob participated in many veteran activities and considered the members among his closest friends.
The absence of his intense love of people will leave many to cherish his positive view of life, his sense of humor, and his loyalty to those around him. All who knew him will remember his intense love of God.
Those who will especially miss him are his surviving children, his son, Robert H. McClelland III and his wife, Kristi, and their children, Lt. Robert IV and Gabrielle, all of Roanoke, Virginia; his daughter, Marcia McClelland Boudreaux of San Francisco and her daughter, Camren; and his son, Ralph McClelland and his wife, Cassie, of Abbeville and his children, Chad and Nicole, and two stepgrandchildren, Bram and Zoe Hinkley.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert McClelland Sr. and Ethel Burgin McClelland; his sister, Sr. Marcia McClelland, CSJ; his beloved wife, Wanda; and his son, Andrew.
Military honors will be rendered in the Morgan City Cemetery by the East St. Mary Veterans Funeral Squad.