Houghton County Sheriff Brian McLean was returned to the Copper Country Thursday under heavy escort. Community members held up signs and greeted the procession from Michigan Tech through Hancock. (Houghton CDaily Mining Gazette photo by Chris Jaehnig)

HOUGHTON — The funeral for a longtime Upper Peninsula sheriff will be held today at Michigan Tech University.

The service for Brian McLean will be held at 2 p.m. at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, following a four-hour public visitation. McLean, 63, died Monday after a weekend accident at his home, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s body arrived in the Copper Country Thursday under heavy excort. Hundreds of area residents lined the roadway to pay their respects.

“Slim,” as he was affectionately known, was first elected in 1996 and reelected again last fall.