ROSE MCLARD

Rose Marie McLard, 65, of Rockford, Ill., died Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2000, at Nelson-Debes Subacute Complex in Rockford, following a lengthy illness.

She was born June 28, 1935, in Rockford, daughter of Floyd and Marie Lersch. She and Elbert N. McLard were married April 8, 1972, in Rockford.

She was a graduate of Rockford East High School.

McLard had been a machine operator at Dasco Products. She retired in 1983 and moved to Southeast Missouri, and recently returned to the Rockford area.

She was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church and Kaleidascopes Square Dance Club in Rockford; Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 3838 and Roll-A-Ways Square Dance Club in Cape Girardeau; and Millersville Homemakers Club in Millersville, Mo.

Survivors include her husband; three sons, Clifford and Steven Smith of Rockford, David Smith of Grayslake, Ill.; five stepdaughters, Edith Jurgens of Roscoe, Ill., Rosealee Backman of Brooklyn, Wis., Janet Merkel and Patricia Downey of Rockford, Cheryl Chavez of Loves Park, Ill.; a brother, Curtis Lersch of Rockford; two sisters, Beverly Johnson of Poplar Grove, Ill., Carol Spangler of Ladysmith, Wis.; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, and a grandson.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Julian-Poorman-Welte Funeral Home in Rockford. The Rev. James Moore will officiate. Burial will be in New Milford Cemetery at Rockford.