Mark A. McClanahan, 53 years of age, of Odell passed away unexpectedly Friday, August 21, 2020 at Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center. He was born on November 8, 1966 in Nebraska City to Robert and Karen (Porter) McClanahan. Mark graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1985. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Mark earned his master’s degree in Education Administration from Doane University. He married Amy (Clark) Olesen on December 10, 2005 in Lincoln. Mark had a passion and love for working with kids with behavioral needs. He worked several places in behavioral education including, Dodge Public Schools, the Youth Facility in Omaha, Lincoln Public Schools, North Platte Public Schools, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Collaborative Industries, Brook Valley School North, McPherson Public Schools and ESU #5. Mark was currently working as the supervisor for the CORE program and as a behavioral specialist for the Beatrice Public School District. He was an avid Husker football and Cubs baseball fan and enjoyed hiking, Estes Park, Colorado, KISS and fishing with his grandsons. A quote Mark truly believed in was “students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Mark is survived by his wife, Amy; daughter, Justine McClanahan of Bellevue; step-son, Joshua Olesen of Lincoln; grandchildren, Kaden, Malik, Darian, Onyx, Orion, Saphirra; mother, Karen McClanahan of Lincoln; brothers, Kurt McClanahan and wife Schar of Wichita, Kansas, Ryan McClanahan and wife Shannon of Lincoln; sisters, Cara Loken and husband John of Bennet, Jeni Wilkison and husband Darin of Lincoln; mother-in-law, Judy Clark of Lincoln; brother-in-law, Scott Clark and wife Becky of Lincoln; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father; and father-in-law, David Clark.
There will be no services at this time. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice in care of the mortuary. Harman-Wright Mortuary & Crematory in Beatrice in charge of arrangements.
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