Morgan Leon McLeland, 91, of Marengo, died peacefully at his home on December 2, 2023. He was born on October 4, 1932, the son of Eldred and Marjorie McLeland.
He was born In Keosauqua, Iowa and grew up in Capitol Heights, Iowa with his younger brother Jan. He worked at a steel plant to pay his way through college at Central College in Pella, Iowa as well as during the summers while pursuing his Masters of Divinity at Garrett Seminary, Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He graduated from Central College in 1955, where he was President of his class of
‘55. He played baseball and football there and was awarded the Prims Sportsmanship Award in 1954.
After he graduated from Garrett Seminary he went right into the ministry with the First United Methodist Church. He served south of the loop in Chicago, and then in Waukegan, Forest Park, Melrose Park, Chicago (at Albany Park), Kaneville, Orangeville, Barrington, and Fox River Grove where he retired in 2012 after 54 years of service.
Morgan was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend who will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his children, Janet Rogers (Darrell), Christa Riddington (Ian), Scott McLeland (Kathleen), Carla Jeanne (“CJ”) McLeland, and by his daughter-in-law, Chris Rogers, as well as his grandchildren Matthew, Megan, Jonathan, Kaitlyn, and Dane, his nephews Grant and Gordon McLeland, and previous wife Patricia Nicholas (mother of Scott, Christa and Carla).
He was preceded in death by his wife Sandy, his brother Jan and son Randy Rogers.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2023 from 1pm - 2pm immediately followed by the funeral service at 2pm -all at Marengo First Assembly Church-22817 W. Grant Hwy, in Marengo, IL.
The burial will be at Marengo Cemetery and there will be a late luncheon hosted by the family afterwards.
For further information please contact the funeral home 847-515-8772 or online condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may receive a prompt to grant DefioreFuneral access to your camera. This is only temporary and will be solely for the duration of recording your condolence message.
Never met Morgan but he sounds like like a wonderful person. So sorry.
I had the great pleasure of getting to know Morgan through his daughter, CJ. He was so kind and always funny. A great conversationalist with so much wit and wisdom. I know his family loved him and that they will find comfort in the faith that he passed on to them. Love to his family from mine
We was a good father and an excellent human. He brought happiness to us. May God bless his soul in heaven.