J. Rowland Mcclymont

Memorial Services for J. Rowland McClymont will be conducted from the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr. officiating. Private family interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

James Rowland McClymont, 92 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. He was born November 19, 1916, on the Phelps County farm homesteaded by his grandparents, George and Ella Rowland. He was the eldest of four children born to Clyde Peter and Hazel (Rowland) McClymont. He graduated from Holdrege High School in 1934, and continued his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938.

In September of 1944, Rowland was united in marriage to Eleanor Rogers in Chicago and to this union were born four children: Joan, James, Mary and Martha.

During World War II, Rowland spent three and a half years of his four years of military service overseas with the 34th Infantry Division in Northern Ireland, North Africa and Italy. He attained the rank of Major in the 133rd Infantry Regiment. At war's end, he rejoined his father and brother, Philip, in Clyde McClymont and Sons, a cattle feeding and farming business in Phelps County.

A longtime member of the Holdrege Rotary Club, Rowland served as president in 1950-51 and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also president of a portion of his thirteen years as a member of the Holdrege Board of Education. He served as a director of the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce, Phelps County Memorial Health Center, Holdrege Savings and Loan Association, Phelps County Community Foundation, Holdrege Memorial Homes Foundation, Holdrege Economic Resource Organization, and Phelps County Development Corporation. He was a member of the University of Nebraska Chancellors Club, as well as Ag Builders of Nebraska and a trustee of the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Rowland was president of the Nebraska Livestock Feeders Association, and a director of the National Cattlemen's Association. He was selected to be a member of the Nebraska Agriculture Hall of Fame, as well as a member of the Nebraska Cattlemen's Association Hall of Fame. He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege, where he served as an elder and trustee.

Rowland is survived by three daughters: Joan Carl and her husband, Peter of Redmond, Washington, Mary E. McClymont of Washington, D.C., Martha Boyd and her husband, Bill of Hastings, Nebraska, one son, James McClymont and his wife, Gay of North Platte, Nebraska; nine grandchildren: Kaethe, Lian and Ian Carl, James, Matthew and Sarah McClymont, and Laura, Katherine and William Boyd; one brother, Philip McClymont of Holdrege; one sister-in-law, Gertrude Rogers of York, Nebraska; special friend, Margaret Fischer of Holdrege and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor on October 14, 2000; one brother, Richard McClymont; one sister, Ruth Armstrong; three brothers-in-law: Richard K. Armstrong, Burton Rogers and John Rogers and two sisters-in-law: Anne McClymont and Ann McClymont.

Rowland will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Friday, April 24, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege or the Phelps County Community Foundation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.