Clyde James McKerlie was born in Salem, Wisconsin on January 20, 1926 to Clyde L. and Eleanor McKerlie. His family moved from town to town wherever his father could find a job during the Depression. His Grandma said he was always a good boy and a good student. He spent his summers on his aunt’s farm, where he learned to enjoy raising vegetables and small animals. He and his 3 younger siblings had fun in the farm’s pig pen.
After high school he got a job as an apprentice tool and die maker at R.O. Schulz Co. in Elmwood Park. At age 18 he received a draft notice. His boss wanted to get him deferred as working in a war-essential job, but Clyde wanted to do his duty for his country during World War II. He joined the Navy and was trained as a radar technician and served on the USS Siboney. By the time he was trained the war was over, but he was sent to the Philippines to relieve the sailors who had done the fighting and to help keep the peace.
Clyde was discharged in 1946 and returned to his job at R.O. Schulz where he met his future wife, Rosemarie. They were fixed up by the men in the shop at the company picnic, and after dating a year and a half, they decided they were made for each other. They married in 1954 and bought a house in a new neighborhood in Niles, Illinois. Here, they welcomed their firstborn, David, and two years later, Donna. While raising a family and working nights, he received a degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in mechanical engineering. He started work at Teletype Corporation and stayed there until he retired.
After 12 years in Niles, Clyde received an offer from Teletype he couldn’t refuse: he could study for his master’s degree while working at the Bell Research labs in Princeton, New Jersey, all expenses paid! The family moved to Trenton, New Jersey, where two years later he received a degree in Metallurgy and Materials Science.
The McKerlies returned to Illinois and bought a home in Mt. Prospect where they put down roots for 40 years. 2008 saw them moving to a lovely apartment in the Sedgebrook retirement community in Lincolnshire. Clyde got involved in the Men’s club, and continued to have a garden as he had his entire life. Unfortunately, the same year they moved he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Treatment helped hold symptoms at bay for years, but the cancer was too aggressive to be cured. He bravely challenged the disease, never complaining, and always retaining a sense of humor.
Clyde leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years, his children and their spouses, and two granddaughters who are engaged to be married.
We will all miss him.
Visitation Sunday 2-4 PM at Friedrichs Funeral Home, 320 W. Central Rd. (at Northwest Highway) Mt. Prospect. A funeral service will follow visitation at 4 PM also at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers contributions to Simithsonian Institution @ www.si.edu or The Nature Conservancy @ www.nature.org