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He was born in Montrose, California, in 1933.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Joan Madeline McClelland, sister Mary Johnson, Auburn, California, son David McClelland, Bonners Ferry, daughter Diane McClelland-Allen, Sagle, grandson John W. McClelland, granddaughter Jennifer Mcclelland-Mandin and adoptive granddaughter Kendra Rekstad. He also left behind many nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
John was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army. He was the youngest fire captain ever appointed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (Cal-Fire), where he worked for 33 years as an arson investigator and fire captain - peace officer.
While working for Cal-Fire he helped organize and form the Pioneer Fire Protection District in Somerset. When he retired, he became the full time fire chief of Pioneer Fire Department.
John retired again after nine years and he and Madeline moved to Sagle to begin the next chapter in their lives.
Boating on lake Pend Oreille, haying their 53 acres, running his excavator, being a ham radio operator, rock crawling in Moab, restoring classic cars, being a member of SPORTS (Safety Personnel Officers Retired to Sandpoint), these were the joys of his long and wonderful life.
Both his son David and his grandson John W. followed in his footsteps to become law enforcement officers, David a detective for the Boundary County Sheriff's Office and John W. a deputy for the Boundary County Sheriffs Office.
John was greatly loved and respected by his family and will forever be the standard against which all other men will be measured in their eyes.