John Frederick McLaren, son of George Kells and Lucille Gail (Crist) McLaren, was born on April 25, 1926 in Shenandoah, Iowa. He passed away on September 14, 2016 at his home in rural Farragut, Iowa.

J.F. was born and raised in Shenandoah, Iowa. He graduated from Shenandoah High School with the class of 1944. On October 5, 1947 he was united in marriage to Vivian Marie Laumann at the First United Methodist Church of Shenandoah. They resided in rural Farragut, living on the same farm from 1947 until J.F.'s passing.

J.F. was a farmer from 1943 until 2016. They rented from Faye Esden from the spring of 1947 until 1979. In 1979 they purchased the farm at a public auction. He enjoyed collecting and painting John Deere antique tractors. J.F. was a very intelligent man and could fix just about anything. One of J.F.'s sayings as he looked at a building or piece of machinery, "Well, I think a fella could make one of those." He loved his family and was a good steward of the land.

J.F. was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Shenandoah, Iowa Farm Bureau, past Board Member of Federal Land Bank of Shenandoah, Fisher Township Committee for ASCS and Shenandoah Elks Lodge #1122.

He was preceded in death by his wife Vivian McLaren, parents George and Gail McLaren, brothers Robert McLaren and Sterling McLaren.

J.F. is survived by his sons, Derryl McLaren and wife Carma of Farragut, and their family Jay McLaren and his wife Lucia of Shoreview, MN and their children, Liam, Cole and Keenan; Jared McLaren and wife Aryn of Grimes, IA and their daughter Hannah; Dennis McLaren and wife Susan of Farragut, and their children, Matthew McLaren and wife Pamela of Farragut and their children Sage and Jackson, Kasey DuVal and husband Donny of Nebraska, City, NE and their children, Annastyn, Landon and Alyvia; daughter, Debra Delay and husband Bradly of Olathe, KS and their children, Ryan Delay and wife Stacey of Sacramento, CA, and Kelly Delay of Olathe, KS; brothers, George Allen McLaren of Atlanta, GA, and Richard McLaren; sister-in-law Joyce McLaren of Shenandoah, and a brother-in-law Donald Laumann of rural Farragut. Many other relatives and a host of friends.

Burial will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah.

Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Shenandoah or the Shenandoah Medical Center Home Health.