MSgt. Ernest Eugene (Ernie) McLean passed away peacefully from natural causes at his home in Seaside on January 22, 2013. He was 84. His stepson Ed and caregiver and niece JoAn were by his side when he left us.
Ernie was born in Cheney Washington on July 1st, 1928. He was the third youngest of the 8 children of James E. McLean Sr. and Lola Cecelia Brown McLean. He dropped out of school in the 9th grade to work for the railroad tamping ties before enlisting in the Army in 1945. He was 17 years old. After a stint on mortar patrol in post WWII Germany, he returned home to his family but found civilian life wasn't so interesting. Even the offer by his uncle to send him to Medical school held no appeal. He liked the Army. Ernie and a friend re-enlisted and were deployed to Korea in October of 1950 where Corporal McLean, machinegun squad leader, was captured. He spent the next 3 hard years as a POW in North Korea. Ernie didn't talk much about that experience but did tell the story once of how he managed to avoid punishment several times by reminding his captors that they said the prisoners wouldn't be punished if they told the truth. He told them "this is the way I see the truth". He was very resourceful.
On his return to the states, he was stationed at Fort Ord, California where he met and fell head-over-heels in love with Adele Bahdziewicz Arntzen. They were married on October 15, 1959 and Ernie became step-dad to Adele's 5 children. In his 26 ½ years in the Army, Ernie served his country at Fort Riley, Kansas, Nevada, Greenland, Fort Ord, California, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Dix, New Jersey. In addition to his service in in Korea he served two tours in Vietnam and earned the Victory in Europe Medal, a Bronze Star for Valor, a Purple Heart, the POW Medal, and a Rifleman 2nd Award along with a chest-full of ribbons. When he retired from the Army, Ernie and Adele moved back to the Monterey Peninsula to be near family and Ernie had a second career working for AVCO Finance, Wackenhut Security, Household Finance and Goldsmith's Jewelers.
Many years later, while caring for Adele through her battle with cancer, Ernie learned to use a computer. After Adele passed, Ernie took up playing Pogo and Trivia on-line and made friends with people all over the world. He really enjoyed watching his favorite shows on TV, reading espionage thrillers and mysteries, working crossword puzzles and walking his dogs (first Buck and later Dollar). Some of his neighbors took to calling him "the Colonel" because of his military bearing and gait. He loved to hang out in his front yard to chat with and wave at passers-by. Many a walker stopped to say hello and soon became friends with Ernie Buck, and Dollar. The joy of his life was when any of his sprawling family from anywhere in the country would show up to visit. Ernie had a big heart and was a generous and hospitable host – there wasn't any point in even trying to pick up the tab for dinner. His quirky personality, wicked wit, enjoyment of board games and cribbage made for fun visits. He loved to crack jokes, break out in song (he had a lovely tenor voice) and sit down for a cuppa' joe any time of day or night.
He was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, his five brothers; Ellis, James Jr.,Robert, Charles, and George, his two sisters Gladys, and Dorothy; his wife of 44 years, Adele, and her oldest son, Fred Arntzen.
He is survived by his step-children Ed Arntzen of Pacifica, Rosalie Arntzen of Sunnyvale, Catherine Arntzen-Randles of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Eleanor Arntzen, also of Albuquerque, nine grandchildren (Michelle, Melissa, Brian, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jason, Andreas, Matthew and Jessica) and eight great grandchildren (Jessica, Olivia, Masyn, Parker, Kennedy, Austen and Aleksander – and another little great-granddaughter to be born this April).
He is the last of his generation on the McLean side of the family and leaves behind his loving and beloved niece JoAn McLean who spent the last year caring for him, his beloved niece Deborah of Kaneohe, Hawaii as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and many generations who reside in California, Washington, Hawaii and New Mexico. He will be missed by all of us.
Ernie was born in Cheney Washington on July 1st, 1928. He was the third youngest of the 8 children of James E. McLean Sr. and Lola Cecelia Brown McLean. He dropped out of school in the 9th grade to work for the railroad tamping ties before enlisting in the Army in 1945. He was 17 years old. After a stint on mortar patrol in post WWII Germany, he returned home to his family but found civilian life wasn't so interesting. Even the offer by his uncle to send him to Medical school held no appeal. He liked the Army. Ernie and a friend re-enlisted and were deployed to Korea in October of 1950 where Corporal McLean, machinegun squad leader, was captured. He spent the next 3 hard years as a POW in North Korea. Ernie didn't talk much about that experience but did tell the story once of how he managed to avoid punishment several times by reminding his captors that they said the prisoners wouldn't be punished if they told the truth. He told them "this is the way I see the truth". He was very resourceful.
On his return to the states, he was stationed at Fort Ord, California where he met and fell head-over-heels in love with Adele Bahdziewicz Arntzen. They were married on October 15, 1959 and Ernie became step-dad to Adele's 5 children. In his 26 ½ years in the Army, Ernie served his country at Fort Riley, Kansas, Nevada, Greenland, Fort Ord, California, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Dix, New Jersey. In addition to his service in in Korea he served two tours in Vietnam and earned the Victory in Europe Medal, a Bronze Star for Valor, a Purple Heart, the POW Medal, and a Rifleman 2nd Award along with a chest-full of ribbons. When he retired from the Army, Ernie and Adele moved back to the Monterey Peninsula to be near family and Ernie had a second career working for AVCO Finance, Wackenhut Security, Household Finance and Goldsmith's Jewelers.
Many years later, while caring for Adele through her battle with cancer, Ernie learned to use a computer. After Adele passed, Ernie took up playing Pogo and Trivia on-line and made friends with people all over the world. He really enjoyed watching his favorite shows on TV, reading espionage thrillers and mysteries, working crossword puzzles and walking his dogs (first Buck and later Dollar). Some of his neighbors took to calling him "the Colonel" because of his military bearing and gait. He loved to hang out in his front yard to chat with and wave at passers-by. Many a walker stopped to say hello and soon became friends with Ernie Buck, and Dollar. The joy of his life was when any of his sprawling family from anywhere in the country would show up to visit. Ernie had a big heart and was a generous and hospitable host – there wasn't any point in even trying to pick up the tab for dinner. His quirky personality, wicked wit, enjoyment of board games and cribbage made for fun visits. He loved to crack jokes, break out in song (he had a lovely tenor voice) and sit down for a cuppa' joe any time of day or night.
He was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, his five brothers; Ellis, James Jr.,Robert, Charles, and George, his two sisters Gladys, and Dorothy; his wife of 44 years, Adele, and her oldest son, Fred Arntzen.
He is survived by his step-children Ed Arntzen of Pacifica, Rosalie Arntzen of Sunnyvale, Catherine Arntzen-Randles of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Eleanor Arntzen, also of Albuquerque, nine grandchildren (Michelle, Melissa, Brian, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jason, Andreas, Matthew and Jessica) and eight great grandchildren (Jessica, Olivia, Masyn, Parker, Kennedy, Austen and Aleksander – and another little great-granddaughter to be born this April).
He is the last of his generation on the McLean side of the family and leaves behind his loving and beloved niece JoAn McLean who spent the last year caring for him, his beloved niece Deborah of Kaneohe, Hawaii as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and many generations who reside in California, Washington, Hawaii and New Mexico. He will be missed by all of us.
MSgt. Ernest Eugene (Ernie) McLean passed away peacefully from natural causes at his home in Seaside on January 22, 2013. He was 84. His stepson Ed and caregiver and niece JoAn were by his side when he left us.
Ernie was born in Cheney Washington on July 1st, 1928. He was the third youngest of the 8 children of James E. McLean Sr. and Lola Cecelia Brown McLean. He dropped out of school in the 9th grade to work for the railroad tamping ties before enlisting in the Army in 1945. He was 17 years old. After a stint on mortar patrol in post WWII Germany, he returned home to his family but found civilian life wasn't so interesting. Even the offer by his uncle to send him to Medical school held no appeal. He liked the Army. Ernie and a friend re-enlisted and were deployed to Korea in October of 1950 where Corporal McLean, machinegun squad leader, was captured. He spent the next 3 hard years as a POW in North Korea. Ernie didn't talk much about that experience but did tell the story once of how he managed to avoid punishment several times by reminding his captors that they said the prisoners wouldn't be punished if they told the truth. He told them "this is the way I see the truth". He was very resourceful.
On his return to the states, he was stationed at Fort Ord, California where he met and fell head-over-heels in love with Adele Bahdziewicz Arntzen. They were married on October 15, 1959 and Ernie became step-dad to Adele's 5 children. In his 26 ½ years in the Army, Ernie served his country at Fort Riley, Kansas, Nevada, Greenland, Fort Ord, California, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Dix, New Jersey. In addition to his service in in Korea he served two tours in Vietnam and earned the Victory in Europe Medal, a Bronze Star for Valor, a Purple Heart, the POW Medal, and a Rifleman 2nd Award along with a chest-full of ribbons. When he retired from the Army, Ernie and Adele moved back to the Monterey Peninsula to be near family and Ernie had a second career working for AVCO Finance, Wackenhut Security, Household Finance and Goldsmith's Jewelers.
Many years later, while caring for Adele through her battle with cancer, Ernie learned to use a computer. After Adele passed, Ernie took up playing Pogo and Trivia on-line and made friends with people all over the world. He really enjoyed watching his favorite shows on TV, reading espionage thrillers and mysteries, working crossword puzzles and walking his dogs (first Buck and later Dollar). Some of his neighbors took to calling him "the Colonel" because of his military bearing and gait. He loved to hang out in his front yard to chat with and wave at passers-by. Many a walker stopped to say hello and soon became friends with Ernie Buck, and Dollar. The joy of his life was when any of his sprawling family from anywhere in the country would show up to visit. Ernie had a big heart and was a generous and hospitable host – there wasn't any point in even trying to pick up the tab for dinner. His quirky personality, wicked wit, enjoyment of board games and cribbage made for fun visits. He loved to crack jokes, break out in song (he had a lovely tenor voice) and sit down for a cuppa' joe any time of day or night.
He was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, his five brothers; Ellis, James Jr.,Robert, Charles, and George, his two sisters Gladys, and Dorothy; his wife of 44 years, Adele, and her oldest son, Fred Arntzen.
He is survived by his step-children Ed Arntzen of Pacifica, Rosalie Arntzen of Sunnyvale, Catherine Arntzen-Randles of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Eleanor Arntzen, also of Albuquerque, nine grandchildren (Michelle, Melissa, Brian, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jason, Andreas, Matthew and Jessica) and eight great grandchildren (Jessica, Olivia, Masyn, Parker, Kennedy, Austen and Aleksander – and another little great-granddaughter to be born this April).
He is the last of his generation on the McLean side of the family and leaves behind his loving and beloved niece JoAn McLean who spent the last year caring for him, his beloved niece Deborah of Kaneohe, Hawaii as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and many generations who reside in California, Washington, Hawaii and New Mexico. He will be missed by all of us.
Ernie was born in Cheney Washington on July 1st, 1928. He was the third youngest of the 8 children of James E. McLean Sr. and Lola Cecelia Brown McLean. He dropped out of school in the 9th grade to work for the railroad tamping ties before enlisting in the Army in 1945. He was 17 years old. After a stint on mortar patrol in post WWII Germany, he returned home to his family but found civilian life wasn't so interesting. Even the offer by his uncle to send him to Medical school held no appeal. He liked the Army. Ernie and a friend re-enlisted and were deployed to Korea in October of 1950 where Corporal McLean, machinegun squad leader, was captured. He spent the next 3 hard years as a POW in North Korea. Ernie didn't talk much about that experience but did tell the story once of how he managed to avoid punishment several times by reminding his captors that they said the prisoners wouldn't be punished if they told the truth. He told them "this is the way I see the truth". He was very resourceful.
On his return to the states, he was stationed at Fort Ord, California where he met and fell head-over-heels in love with Adele Bahdziewicz Arntzen. They were married on October 15, 1959 and Ernie became step-dad to Adele's 5 children. In his 26 ½ years in the Army, Ernie served his country at Fort Riley, Kansas, Nevada, Greenland, Fort Ord, California, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Dix, New Jersey. In addition to his service in in Korea he served two tours in Vietnam and earned the Victory in Europe Medal, a Bronze Star for Valor, a Purple Heart, the POW Medal, and a Rifleman 2nd Award along with a chest-full of ribbons. When he retired from the Army, Ernie and Adele moved back to the Monterey Peninsula to be near family and Ernie had a second career working for AVCO Finance, Wackenhut Security, Household Finance and Goldsmith's Jewelers.
Many years later, while caring for Adele through her battle with cancer, Ernie learned to use a computer. After Adele passed, Ernie took up playing Pogo and Trivia on-line and made friends with people all over the world. He really enjoyed watching his favorite shows on TV, reading espionage thrillers and mysteries, working crossword puzzles and walking his dogs (first Buck and later Dollar). Some of his neighbors took to calling him "the Colonel" because of his military bearing and gait. He loved to hang out in his front yard to chat with and wave at passers-by. Many a walker stopped to say hello and soon became friends with Ernie Buck, and Dollar. The joy of his life was when any of his sprawling family from anywhere in the country would show up to visit. Ernie had a big heart and was a generous and hospitable host – there wasn't any point in even trying to pick up the tab for dinner. His quirky personality, wicked wit, enjoyment of board games and cribbage made for fun visits. He loved to crack jokes, break out in song (he had a lovely tenor voice) and sit down for a cuppa' joe any time of day or night.
He was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, his five brothers; Ellis, James Jr.,Robert, Charles, and George, his two sisters Gladys, and Dorothy; his wife of 44 years, Adele, and her oldest son, Fred Arntzen.
He is survived by his step-children Ed Arntzen of Pacifica, Rosalie Arntzen of Sunnyvale, Catherine Arntzen-Randles of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Eleanor Arntzen, also of Albuquerque, nine grandchildren (Michelle, Melissa, Brian, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jason, Andreas, Matthew and Jessica) and eight great grandchildren (Jessica, Olivia, Masyn, Parker, Kennedy, Austen and Aleksander – and another little great-granddaughter to be born this April).
He is the last of his generation on the McLean side of the family and leaves behind his loving and beloved niece JoAn McLean who spent the last year caring for him, his beloved niece Deborah of Kaneohe, Hawaii as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and many generations who reside in California, Washington, Hawaii and New Mexico. He will be missed by all of us.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
