Charles B. McClenathan, Sr.

Charles Burton McClenathan, Sr., 82, passed away on October 5, 2026. He was born at home on the family farm in Republic, OH on December 30, 1943, to Floyd and Anna McClenathan. He married Karen Jo Akers, the love of his life, after only two weeks of dating, on February 10, 1967 and she preceded him in death on July 19, 2022 after 55 years of marriage.

Charles retired from Armstrong Air in 1998 after 35 years of dedicated service. A lifelong farmer, retirement did little to slow him down. He went on to serve as the unofficial “complaint supervisor” at OAM Construction and as the devoted taskmaster of all four of his sons. Charles was a man of his word. If he gave his word, the matter was settled. He believed a handshake meant something and that a job worth doing was worth doing right. His advice was freely given, whether it had been requested or not, and it was usually followed by a story proving why he was right. Charles loved a challenge, lived without a filter, and never left anyone wondering what he thought. He embodied the cantankerous charm of Walter Matthau’s character in Grumpy Old Men. Charles could be stubborn, challenging, and cantankerous, but those who knew him best understood that beneath it all was a generous heart and an unwavering love for his family.

An outdoorsman at heart, Charles founded and nurtured his family’s love of the outdoors, giving his sons, grandchildren, and future generations a lasting way to spend quality time together. It was not uncommon for him to sit in his tree stand from dawn until dusk or spend an entire day bobbing up and down in a boat miles from shore, determined to catch his limit of walleye. He especially treasured camping, hunting, and fishing with his grandchildren.

Charles was equally at home on the farm, in the garden, and in the kitchen. Over his lifetime, he probably canned more fruits and vegetables than Del Monte Foods. Nothing on the farm went to waste; come butchering time, the only things that got away were the “oink” and the “moo.” He inherited his love of pie making from his mother. He never measured and always insisted on using lard in his pie crusts. His hardworking hands, shaped over the years by labor and arthritis, worked perfectly as his own personal dough hooks. Every pie carried on the traditions he learned from his mother and reflected the care he took in providing for those he loved. Charles showed his affection through full freezers, overflowing gardens, canned goods, homemade pies, shared fishing holes, and lessons learned in the woods. The lessons he taught were not always delivered gently, but they were remembered.

Charles also loved golfing, gun collecting, playing bingo, coaching baseball, and simply being outdoors. He bowled in more leagues than his wife ever saw fit. He was a lifelong member of Green Hills Golf Course and a lifetime member of Clyde VFW Post No. 3343. Above all, Charles was the proud patriarch of his family. He was a dad to many beyond his own children, a friend to all, and affectionately known as “Pawpaw” and “Deda” by his grandchildren.

Charles is survived by his four sons and their families, Charles (Tamara Hummel) Burton McClenathan Jr., Todd (Angie) McClenathan, Shane (Kathy) McClenathan; and Brandon (Dr. April DeHart) McClenathan. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Marissa (Nick) Reed, Caleb Shearn, Corey Shearn, Christian Hummel-Meek, Zach McClenathan, Abbegail (Aaron Montano) McClenathan, Jessica (Jordan) Kirwen, Katrina Ross, Allyson Ross, Jenna Ross, Junuh McClenathan, and Jacob (Jaelyn Prater) McClenathan; great-grandchildren, Reegan “Bubba” Reed, Lucas and Owen McClenathan, and Jadon and Naomi Kirwen; sisters, Mary Einsel-Halbisen and Shirley Akers; sisters-in-law, Lisa Carroll and Sue Carroll, as well as his beloved canine companion, roommate and best friend, Ruger, who was always by his side. He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen Jo (Akers) McClenathan; grandson, Brent McClenathan; parents, Anna and Floyd McClenathan; daughter-in-law, Angela (Druckenmiller) McClenathan; and his big brother, Ken McClenathan.

Charles will be remembered for his steadfast word, tireless work ethic, candid opinions, unmistakable humor, and unwavering devotion to his family. His legacy will live on whenever his family gathers in the woods, casts a fishing line, plants a garden, rolls out a pie crust, or simply spends time together outdoors. If Charles were here to read all of this, he would probably say, “Stop dickin’ around and get back to work, boys."

Visitation will take place on Monday, October 12, 2026 from 4:00-7:00pm in the Auxter-Recker Funeral Home, 218 S. Main St., Clyde, OH. Additional visitation will take place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 from 10:00am until the time of the funeral service at 11:00am in the funeral home. Private family burial will take place at a later date in Fireside Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Seneca County Pheasants Forever Chapter 293, 775 S. Township Road 110, Tiffin, OH 44883.

In honor of Charles, the family is having a gun raffle for a Savage Arms Axis 2 XP Hardwood 400 Legend Matte Black/Hardwood Bolt Action Rifle. Tickets will be $10.00 each and available at the visitation and the day of the funeral. The winner will be announced at the funeral luncheon.

We encourage everyone to leave memories and upload photos to Charles memorial page to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man.