Kenneth James "Jim" McLean

Kenneth James “Jim” McLean, beloved Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Cousin, Mentor, Coach, and Friend, passed away quietly in his sleep in the early morning of July 7th, 2023. His passing marked the end of a battle with prostate cancer that lasted more than 20 years.

Jim was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on October 29th, 1943 to Lois Muriel Haram and Kenneth Charles “Ken” McLean. As a young boy, his family moved to Syracuse, NY in 1951 where Jim grew up and graduated from Eastwood HS Class of 1961 and Le Moyne College Class of 1965 with a B.B.A. in General Business.

Within 6 months of his college graduation and starting his Property & Casualty Insurance career as a claims rep with Crawford & Company in Pittsburgh, PA, he received a draft notice for the Army. Rather than joining the Army, he chose to join the Navy serving during the Vietnam War from 1966 -1967 aboard the ammunition ship USS Shasta as a navigator. Upon completion of active duty, he entered his chosen field of Business Administration.

During his 30 plus years in the insurance industry, he was employed by The Hartford, Insurance Company of North America (founding administrative manager for the Northern Illinois Service Office April 1979), Michigan Farm Bureau, and West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, West Bend, WI from 1987– 2002 retiring as Vice President of Human Resources. He continued to work as an independent consultant until 2007 with various clients, most notably with Jewish Family Services in Milwaukee, WI.

After his wife retired in 2009, they moved to Wilmington, DE to be closer to family living in Philadelphia where he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, playing golf, attending classes at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Delaware, watching football and hockey games on TV, listening to his favorite classic rock music and passing out treats to his neighborhood doggy friends.

His life touched many beyond his family circle. He will be forever remembered for his love of family and his resilient and kind spirit. Bon Voyage Papa! We love you and you will always be remembered!

Jim is predeceased by his mother, Lois; father, Ken; aunts, Doris Walton, Fern Lockerby, Della Payne; and his uncle, Les Payne. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Scarlette; sons, Christopher of Santa Fe, NM and Timothy (Anna) of Philadelphia, PA; grandsons, Gavin, Ryan, and Gabriel; and Canadian cousins, especially 1st cousins, Lois Strange and June Cuthbert, whom he considered sisters, and Gary Strange. He is also survived by many friends, nieces, nephews, and extended family.

We are sincerely grateful for the compassionate, loving and professional care provided by the Oncology Unit at the Wilmington, DE VA Medical Center, especially Dr. Nathan, Krupa, Kari, Diana and Mary Ann Graham and by the care team at Compassionate Care Hospice, especially Jessica, Jen, Monique, Beth, Khaliel and Chaplain Bob.

Family and friends are invited to visit beginning at 10:30AM on Monday, July 31, 2023 at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808. A memorial service will begin at 11AM. A committal service will follow at 1PM in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE 19701. For those unable to attend the memorial service in person, it will be live-streamed. The link can be found below the obituary text and will be live on the day of Jim's memorial service a few minutes prior to 11AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Kenneth James McLean to Le Moyne College, Financial Aid Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 527, Syracuse, NY 13214.

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