Allan McClain, Formerly Of Sitka, Dies at Age 85
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- Created on Friday, 14 July 2023 14:23
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Allan Clair McClain
It is with immense sadness that his family announces the passing of Allan Clair McClain on June 9, 2023, in Bellingham, Washington. He was 85.
Allan was born in Walker, Minnesota, on November 6, 1937, to Wilma Violet McClain (nee Sautbine) and Cecil Clair McClain. He was the eldest of five boys.
In 1946 the family moved to Sitka, where Allan graduated from Sitka High School. After high school he joined the U.S. Marines then returned to Sitka to be a member of the police force. He moved on to become an Alaska State Trooper.
In 1965 he joined the U.S. Department of Justice as a special agent working both at home and overseas.
He retired from the Federal Government in 1988 but carried on with law enforcement for the State of Virginia as a magistrate, retiring in 1994. His final career with law enforcement was as a consultant in security and law enforcement.
Always dedicated to his country, after his final retirement he joined the National Guard in Texas.
He has been interviewed and mentioned in books, including “Strength of the Pack,” by Kendall McKenna.
Allan was never one to flaunt his achievements or credentials (unless pulled over for speeding). He was a highly intelligent, honorable man with an amazing memory and dry sense of humor. He was an avid reader, sports fan and collector. He could tell you any and everything about history and sports, his favorite being baseball and football.
He himself played a little football in college.
He enjoyed playing tennis, squash, mountain/rock climbing and on a whim took horseback riding lessons and ended up being a contestant in a rodeo.
Allan is greatly missed by his loving wife Pamela McClain (nee: Ritchie-Haydn). They shared 62 years of wonderful adventures and experiences together.
He was predeceased by his mother Wilma McClain and father Cecil McClain; and brothers David and Marion (Mickey) McClain.
He is survived and mourned by two brothers Ronald McClain and wife Harriet, and Kerry McClain and wife Julie; and two daughters Michelle Kabel (nee McClain) and spouse Brian Ushko, and Cherise Chissus (nee McClain) and spouse Brian Chissus.
Also surviving are grandchildren Claire Kabel, Kira Sinnamon (nee Kabel) and Allan Kabel, great-granddaughters, cousins, nieces and nephew.
A military service was held July 7 at Bayview Cemetery, Bellingham Washington.
Thanks to the generosity and expertise of the the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska broadband department, Tidal Network ; Christopher Cropley, director of Tidal Network; and Luke Johnson, Tidal Network technician, SitkaSentinel.com is again being updated. Tidal Network has been working tirelessly to install Starlink satellite equipment for city and other critical institutions, including the Sentinel, following the sudden breakage of GCI's fiberoptic cable on August 29, which left most of Sitka without internet or phone connections. CCTHITA's public-spirited response to the emergency is inspiring.
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