March 16, 1941 — March 24, 2025
Nancy Elizabeth (Small) McClernon passed in peace and comfort, surrounded by her family in the afternoon of March 24, 2025, at Friends of Caroline Hospice center.
She is survived by her devoted husband and best friend of 62 years, Thomas McClernon, her son Brian (Lanette) McClernon of York, Penn., and her daughter Lori (John) Upchurch of Chicago. Nancy loved and was so proud of her five grandchildren: Erin (Jesse) Smeltzer of Wrightsville Penn., Colin McClernon of York, Penn., Louise Upchurch, Winston Upchurch and Mary Upchurch all of Chicago. The delight of her later years were her two great grandchildren, Reese and Walker Smeltzer. Nancy is also survived by her brother and good friend Jim Small (Jeanne) of Peoria Ill., her brother Michael (June) Small of Scottsdale Ariz., and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews all around the country. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Laura Small, and one brother Stephen Small.
Nancy was born in Peoria, Ill. and grew up nearby in Washington, Ill. and had a happy childhood there. She attended St. Patrick’s church and grammar school, and Washington Community High School, and attended Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. where she studied business administration and accounting. Nancy went on to work for Prudential insurance, before marrying the love of her life, Tom and moving around the county with his career. She worked in various office settings, her favorite being Century 21 in Marengo Illinois.
Nan was a friend to all, and easily made friends everywhere she went, often through joining bowling leagues. She was an excellent bowler, even when she had to switch from her right hand to her left hand in her 60s. She counted among her friend’s people she met in bowling leagues in Peoria, Allentown Penn., Warren Mich., Marengo Ill., Walled Lake Mich., and finally Spirit Lake, where she met her best buddy Dorothy Johnson. It was her final wish, and ours that she and Dorothy are off somewhere having a beer.
Nan was an avid reader her whole life, and loved libraries, secondhand bookstores and sharing books with friends and family. She instilled a love of reading and the importance of libraries in her kids and her legacy will live on by our whole families shared love of a good book. Nan also loved reading the news and read several papers each day on her trusty iPad, keeping track of everything from international news to the happenings in small towns. She believed the power and responsibility to be a good citizen, always staying informed, and never missing a single election.
If you knew Nan, you knew of her beautiful smile, charming ways, and life long personal style. She loved to have fun and laugh. She was very active, and enjoyed cross country skiing, bike riding, camping, hiking, ice skating and canoeing. She loved traveling and saw much of the world with Tom and had fun going to sporting events and concerts with Tom, and with her groups of friends. She loved to laugh and hear a good story.
Nan was diagnosed with Scleroderma in 1990, and this horrible auto immune disorder caused many painful and debilitating complications to her health and eventually took her from us. She was never one to complain about her health problems. Tom, the love of her life, took excellent care of her as she lost her ability to swallow and eat, and was at her side until the end. She will be missed forever by all of those who ever knew her, but especially by her family. There will be a celebration of her life this summer.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Spirit Lake Public Library or to The National Scleroderma Foundation. Please read a book and have a cold beer for Nan.