John McLaren, son of John Anderson and Mary (Worledge) McLaren, was born on July 31, 1917 in Chicago, IL. John passed away on September 30, 2017 at the Maple Crest Care Center in Omaha, NE at the age of 100.

John grew up in the Chicago, IL area. He graduated from Barrington High School in 1936 and attended the University of Illinois. On January 15, 1945 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Honor Scott in Chicago, IL. They lived in Belvidere, IL until 1959 when they moved to Shenandoah, IA for John to work at Lake's Nursery.

John was a horticultural inspector for the State of Illinois before becoming Lake's Nursery's Sales Manager in 1959. In 1977, he worked for J.Frank Schmidt & Son Company out of Boring, OR, retiring in 1993. He then returned to McLaren Nursery in Shenandoah, IA until 2004. He was a member of the Iowa Nurseryman's Association and the National Nurseryman's Association. On January 27, 1994 John received the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association Merit Award.

John enjoyed photography, he took beautiful pictures with his cameras and lenses. He also was fond of listening to classical music and watching British comedies. His greatest love was his family and his Scottie dogs.

John was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Honor (2012); his parents; brother Robert A. McLaren; brothers-in-law Jim Gillono, Peter Scott and Hank Herula; sister-in-law Grace McLaren; daughter-in-law Valerie Smith McLaren; nephew Jimmy Herula and great-grandson Arthur Peter.

John is survived by his two sons: Ian McLaren and wife Beverly of Shenandoah and Rob McLaren and wife Diana of Omaha, NE; six grandchildren: Danielle Hoover and husband Joe of Albia, IA, Antonio Alvarez and wife Raelle of Bourbonnais, IL, Laure Dupin and partner Olivier Alary of LeMoule, Guadeloupe, Maria Skog and partner Oskari Letho of Vantaa, Finland, Amy Peter and husband Richard of Omaha, NE and Molly Miller and fiancee Justin Moench of Omaha, NE; 13 great-grandchildren: Zachary Louis Hoover, Madeline Dawn Hoover, Deandre Nicholas Alvarez, Pauline Anne Alary, Arthur Joseph Alary, Lauri Lehto, Valtteri Lehto, Emilina Lehto, Jessica Peter, Christopher Peter, Zachary Peter, Ellie Peter and Samantha Jean Peter; brother Bill McLaren of Ripon, WI; sisters Christine Gillono of Chicago, IL and Alison McMillan and husband Denny of Ivins, UT; sister-in-law Margaret Herula of Coeur d'Alene, ID and numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Celebration of life funeral service will be held 10:30 am, Saturday, October 7, 2017 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.

Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Friday, October 6, 2017 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.

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

Memorials may be directed to the Wabash Nature Trail.