Stella Mccleary

Stella’s life began on April 8, 1929 in Chicago, the daughter of Ignacy and Ramona (Mroczka) Strempski. She was a 1946 graduate of Dowagiac Central High School. Stella worked at Barber’s Drug Store behind the soda fountain and that is where she met her future husband Albert McCleary. Albert and Stella were united in marriage on September 11, 1948 in Dowagiac. Stella had also worked at Lee Memorial Hospital and Walgreen’s Drug Store in Kalamazoo, retiring after 32 years of service. She was a member of the Polish National Alliance, VFW Post #6252, Moose Lodge #88, the 4th Armored Ladies Auxiliary, and the Marv Herzog Polka Boosters. She loved camping and going to the casino, polka dancing, going the Bavarian Festival in Frankenmuth and traveling throughout the Midwest. Her greatest joy was her family which includes her children Joan Geren of Kalamazoo, and John (Bev) McCleary of Anchorage, Alaska, grandchildren Jennifer (John) Geren-Butkus of Grand Rapids, Tracy (Josh) Geren-Childers of Vicksburg, Annette (Wolfgang) Wakaliuk and Daniel McCleary of Wasilla, Alaska, great grandchildren Cable and Corbin Butkus, Monica Geren, Mychael and Zachary Childers, Ripley, Gabrielle, Madison and Hunter Wakaliuk. Stella passed away on May 11, 2009 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She is preceded in death by her husband Albert in 2006, her sister Sophie Strempski and her parents. Her family will gather with friends on Friday from 12 noon until 2 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home and she will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to the family in care of Joan Geren. Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Stella at www.mclauchlin-clark.com.