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MISSOULA, MT – Rev. Dr. Robert F McClellan, Jr, age 92, passed peacefully in his home in Missoula MT, on July 24th, 2026. Robert was born and raised in Northfield, Ill. His love for the outdoors and Montana started when he took a summer job for the US forest service fire crew in Seeley Lake Mt. at just 18.
Robert and his high school sweetheart, Sara Greer, married after graduating from Michigan State University, and embarked on a 59 year marriage full of a myriad of adventures. They started their life together in Berkley, CA where Robert received his PhD in theology and they welcomed their first child. They then moved to Cordova Alaska for Robert’s missionary assignment with baby Mary in tow and another on the way. In Cordova, a small community accessible only by sea plane, they survived more months of snow than not, lived off king crabs, salmon and donated moose meat. Their 2nd child Karen arrived while they were in Alaska.
After a few years they returned to the lower 48 landing in Lansing, MI, where Robert led a parish and built their first church. Realizing the church proper was not his calling Robert returned to Michigan State University graduate school for his PhD in History. The 3rd and 4th children, Sara and Martha arrived during this time.
With 4 girls under the age of six, Robert and Sara moved to Marquette Mi, where he became a professor of history at Northern Michigan University, specializing in Women's studies, racial and cultural minorities, and the Holocaust. They purchased an 1880's Victorian mansion with five fireplaces, 3 stories, a tower and a widows walk, and began the daunting task of renovation.
When possible Robert and Sara pursued their interest in the outdoors, embarking on many family camping, fishing, canoeing, sailing and backpacking trips to places such as the Boundary Waters, MN, The Great lakes, the Mission mountains of Montana, and the Caribbean. During this time Robert talked Sara into purchasing lakeshore property and an island on the Ontario, Canada coast of Lake Superior named Beaver Island. This was a great love of Robert and Sara's and a place where many summers were spent.
Robert purchased his first sailboat, a 25' gaff-rigged cat boat named Spray. He enjoyed sailing around and across Lake Superior often with 1 or more daughters as crew. His lifelong interest in sailing continued with the purchase of larger boats and longer trips. One of these trips included the great loop, through the great lakes, down the Mississippi River, across the Gulf of Mexico and to the Bahamas. The return route went via the Intercoastal waterway, up the Atlantic Coast, through the Hudson River, the Erie canal and back to the Great Lakes, Other sailing included crewing as navigator in the Chicago-Mac Yacht Race and the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race.
At Northern Michigan University Robert was an activist for many causes; organizing protests and marches. He and Sara marched on Washington on several occasions including supporting Roe vs Wade. He often spoke of his meeting with the leader of the Black Panthers.
In addition to his University Professorship Robert enjoyed building projects and real estate. 0ne of his Building projects included building a house on the rocky shore of Lake Superior and another, renovating an old oyster shucking shed on Nantucket Island, MA.
Retirement enabled Robert to focus on family sailing trips around the world, back packing in Glacier National Park, and time and adventures with his 8 grandchildren. Robert and Sara eventually were drawn back to the west coast, settling in the hills above Calistoga, CA. There they embarked on a venture in the grape growing industry with Martha and her family. This was their home for the next 20+ years until Sara's passing in 2015.
In 2017 Robert's house burned to the ground in the Calistoga Tubbs Lane Wildfire, with Robert barely escaping. Eventually he relocated back to MT, settling in the mountains just outside of Missoula.
Robert died at home surrounded by many of his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his daughters Mary McClellan of Annapolis MD, Karen McClellan of London UK, Sara McClellan Fisher of Missoula MT, and Martha McClellan of St Helena, CA, and eight grandchildren, Kathy, Serafina, Lu, Cameron, Benjamin, Theodore, Ellison and Mae.
The memorial will be held at a later date. Any donations in Roberts honor, to Glacier National Park Conservancy, would be greatly appreciated.