Margaret Mary (Malone) McClaren, 83, of Creston, IA, formerly of Grand Island, NE entered into eternal rest on December 14, 2023, at Homestead Memory Care of Creston with daughter Michelle by her side. She is now reunited in heaven with husband Jim, son Mike, sister Roselee, brother John, and her parents, as well as many other family and friends whose memory she cherished. Mass of Christian burial will be December 30, 2023, at 10:00 am at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island, NE. The Rev. Richard L. Piontkowski will be the celebrant. Interment will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery immediately after mass. Visitation will be Friday, December 29, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Curran Funeral Chapel with a vigil service at 7:00 pm. Memorials are suggested to Central Catholic, Salvation Army, or Crime Stoppers. Powers Funeral Home and Curran Funeral Chapel are assisting the family. Your thoughts and prayers may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Margaret's obituary. Margaret was born in Des Moines, IA on November 13, 1940, to John Dixon and Clara (Rodabaugh) Malone. Growing up, Margaret lived in Michigan and in a house built by her father in Des Moines, Iowa. It was in Des Moines that she developed her first passion (love of horses) after her parents took her and sister Roselee to a friend's farm to ride their pony. Margaret pestered her parents so much for a horse that they decided to rent a horse from a local stable for one week. They put him out on one acre of yard thinking that would cure Margaret's desire for a horse. In that week, the horse tore down the clothesline post, ate the garden, and bit Roselee and the neighbor girl which in no way diminished Margaret's desire for a horse! Her parents relented with her father even building her a horse trailer. Margaret and family landed in Omaha in 1952, she graduated in 1958 from Cathedral High School. Margaret bought her first horse in 1954 and continued to be an avid horse lover throughout her life, raising, training, and riding primarily quarter horses. Margaret met James G McClaren in 1958 and they dated for two years. Margaret had very exacting requirements for a husband: he must be Catholic, like horses, have a college education, and eat anchovy pizza. Jim was happy to comply by converting to Catholicism, learning to ride a horse, eating anchovy pizza (not his favorite), and graduating from Creighton University in June 1964. He also tolerated "Margaret time" as she NEVER arrived on time to any event. They were married June 4, 1960 at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha, NE. Margaret graduated from Creighton University in 1962 with a BA majoring in sociology with a minor in psychology. This was the start of a career path as a social worker. In 1964, Margaret and Jim loaded up the car and horse trailer with the yearling filly she had just bought, their newly adopted baby daughter Michelle Marie, their dog, and their cat and headed for North Platte for Jim's new job with Crawford and Co. Adopted baby son Michael James arrived in 1965. Through Newcomers Club in North Platte, Margaret became acquainted with a large group (several lifelong friends) that did many things together, including Margaret's second passion… playing bridge. In 1968, Jim became Adjustor in Charge of the Grand Island office of Crawford & Co so a move to RR3, Wood River was made. Margaret now had her long-desired acreage which included a house, a detached garage, a wash house, a chicken coop, a tack barn, two horse barns, a large metal building, and 11.5 acres with wood fenced corral and two pastures. Also included - a not so welcome four party phone line. Great memories include bon fire parties with friends, tractor/trailer rides, and pulling kids in a wagon behind a horse in the summer and a sled in the winter. Horses and Horse 4-H were always in the mix for both Margaret and the kids, where they participated in various horse shows and fairs. Margaret led Brownie/Girl Scout activities for several years. About one year after moving to RR3, Margaret tried her hand at riding a cow in an all-girl rodeo which resulted in a broken right arm. While at RR3, Margaret and Jim belonged to Riverside Golf Club, served on the Central Catholic school board, the Resurrection Parish Council, and co-chaired Carnival Capers one year. They belonged to a couples' pinochle club, two couples' bridge clubs, a bowling league, and the Saddle Club. Margaret belonged to two Extension Clubs, bridge clubs, and a ladies' riding group. In July of 1976, Margaret started work for the Hall County Welfare Department for protective services for children, first as a caseworker, and later as a supervisor for NDHSS. She loved her job and excelled at it. She retired in 2001 after 25 years of outstanding leadership forming many lifelong friendships with coworkers and positively impacting the lives of countless children. After selling four horses and the passing of Margaret's beloved horse, Miss Super Jet, Jim, and Margaret moved to Pheasant Drive in Grand Island in 1983 boarding the youngest horse Mack a mile away. Due to the move, they transferred membership to St. Mary's Cathedral where Margaret served as a Eucharistic minister. Margaret and Jim enjoyed frequent travels to visit family and various vacation destinations throughout the world which supported Margaret's third passion – shopping! On these trips, she never failed to buy rings or bracelets (which number in the hundreds). Margaret loved bringing family together hosting many family reunions over the years with the most recent being in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Creston, Iowa. She generously paid for family members to travel with her to Ireland/Wales, New York/Niagara Falls, Mexico, and California. Margaret's home was always neat and super organized and heaven help you if you did not put things back where they belonged! Margaret could spot a piece of lint on the carpet at 10 feet! Her fourth passion was holiday decorating and entertaining and she especially went all out at Christmas generating so many wonderful memories of homemade tins of goodies, gift swap, stocking opening, and game/card marathons all in a home beautifully decorated from top to bottom. Her home was on the Christmas Tour of Homes in 1989. Husband Jim retired from Crawford and Co after 35 years on December 31, 1999, playing the role of house husband doing laundry and some cooking and then taking on a part time job as a Community Services officer until December 2004. Margaret became a widow on February 12, 2007, losing her companion and best friend of almost 47 years of marriage. Margaret also tragically lost son Michael on June 23, 2009, in a motor vehicle accident. Margaret kept busy attending duplicate bridge lessons, a grief group, Tai Chi classes, Cathedral Ladies meetings, bridge groups, Investment Club, community concerts, Crime Stoppers Board meetings and Admirals meetings and being an Adult Basic Education volunteer tutor. Margaret was diagnosed with a malignant sinus tumor in May 2015 with treatments landing her in skilled care until September 14, 2015. Her sister Roselee passed away in November of that year after complications from a battle with breast cancer, leaving a large void as the sisters phoned each other often. Margaret sold her house and moved to Creston, IA in July 2016 to be closer to daughter Michelle. She organized a bridge group at Crest Ridge Estates where she lived and attended Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Margaret grudgingly moved into Homestead Assisted Living in February 2022 as progressing dementia made independent living unsafe. She moved to Memory Care in September of this year following a 36-day rehab stay for a pelvic fracture. Margaret was admitted to hospice care on September 27 and put up a valiant fight to the end. Margaret was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband, James (Jim) McClaren, beloved son, Michael (Mike) McClaren, half-brother John Malone, sister Roselee Siegler, parents, and grandparents. Margaret is survived by daughter Michelle Hicks (Larry); daughter-in-law Shanda McClaren; grandchildren Chase McClaren (Stephanie) and Tanner McClaren (Kayla); step grandchildren Brooke Dornack (Drew) and MacKenzie Harwood; great grandson Waylon McClaren; and step great grandchildren Brayden Glass, Jordyn Goodloe, Garrett Dahl (Callie), Dylan Dornack, Brynn Dornack, Joslyn Dornack, Alexandra Harwood, Michael Harwood, and Kennedy Harwood. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Frank Siegler; nephews Chris Siegler (Brenda), Bill Siegler, John Malone (Kerry Zachariasen), and David Malone (Martha); and nieces Susan Siegler (Ronnie Gurley), Margaret Mills (Larry), and Mary Watry (Scott); and several great-nieces and nephews. Visitation Curran Funeral Chapel Friday, December 29, 2023 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 3005 South Locust Street Grand Island, NE 68801 Vigil Service Curran Funeral Chapel Friday, December 29, 2023 7:00 PM 3005 South Locust Street Grand Island, NE 68801 Mass of Christian Burial St. Mary's Cathedral Saturday, December 30, 2023 10:00 AM 112 S. Cedar Grand Island, NE 68801