John Marle McLane, 83 of Kearney passed away Monday, November 8 at Brookstone Gardens in Kearney. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 15, 2021 at First Lutheran Church in Kearney with Rev. Dr. Michelle Holley Carlson and Rev. Dr. Rick Carlson officiating. The service will also be live streamed through the church website at https://firstlutherankearney.org/watch-live/.
Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church or to Chadron State College Foundation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.
John Marle McLane was born August 9, 1938 in Albert, Oklahoma to John W. and Hazel Lee (Sensintaffer) McLane. He received his education at Cambridge, Nebraska graduating in 1956. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Chadron State College in 1961 and 1966, respectively. John taught and coached in schools at Oshkosh, Pierce, Morrill and Mitchell, Nebraska. He owned Olympic Athletic Service in Scottsbluff from 1968 to 1983 at which time he moved to Ogallala and became vice president of the Bank at Keystone. He later became president of the bank.
On November 28, 1986 he married LaVon Cole near the family ranch in Cherry County.
In 1989, the couple moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where John recertified his administrative degree at Colorado State University. He became high school principal at Sidney, Nebraska from 1990 to 1994. He went on to serve as superintendent at Wilcox Public Schools 1994-1998, Ainsworth Community Schools 1998-2004, interim superintendent at Alliance Public Schools 2007-2009 and at Central City Public Schools 2013-2014.
John enjoyed all the time he spent guiding teachers and students and working with boards of education during his career. He and LaVon retired to Kearney and made many friends as they became involved in various groups and activities.
John was a lifetime member of BPOE and Shriner’s International. He served as Master Mason of Masonic Lodge 136 in Long Pine and President of Rotary International in Sidney. John was a Charter Board of Director of West Nebraska All Star Sports in1977 and served as President in 1978. He had been a member Nebraska Schoolmasters since 1997, serving as President in 2006-07.
He was inducted into the Chadron State College Hall of Fame in 1985. He was a member of the 1958 undefeated football team, and All Nebraska College Conference tackle in 1958 and 1959. He was named co-captain of the football team in 1959 and 1960.
John had a colorful and eventful life and he loved to tell stories of the shenanigans of his past. His ability to recall names and events from decades earlier was legendary. No one could tell a story, including all the details, like John! He and LaVon enjoyed several golf outings to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and trips to visit family in San Antonio, Texas and Pennsylvania.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, LaVon, sons Jeff, Greg and Andy, stepchildren Rebecca and Kent (Amanda), sister Marilyn (Phil) and nine grandchildren.