Phyllis Jean (Sperling) McClanahan

Phyllis Jean McClanahan, 81, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Dec. 18, 1938, in Jackson, daughter of Fred and Elda Schwab Sperling. She and Jerry Thurman McClanahan were married on April 17, 1960, at Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

Phyllis graduated from Jackson High School in 1957. She started her career at Central Dairy in Jackson, worked in the office at Central Packing Company in Cape Girardeau for several years, and was the secretary and treasurer for the McClanahan Construction Company in Cape Girardeau.

She was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville. Phyllis enjoyed serving the church in various capacities and was the church treasurer for many years.

Loving survivors include her husband of 60 years, Jerry McClanahan; four children, Bradley (Tammy) McClanahan of Jackson; Kimberly McClanahan of Salem, Missouri; Tammy Hunt of Oak Ridge; and Sherry (Roger) McClanahan-Hluzek of St. Charles, Missouri; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are a sister, Carolyn (Dennis) Lewandoski of Arnold, Missouri; and a sister-in-law, Sheree (the late Gary) Sperling of Cape Girardeau.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter, Hannah Jane McClanahan Hluzek; a brother, Gary Sperling; and a nephew, Mark Lewandoski.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. at the church, with the Rev. Wayne Schwiesow officiating.

An invitation is extended to family and friends to attend this service in honor of Phyllis. However, everyone is asked to wear a mask at all times and practice social distancing for the safety of all. 

Interment will be in the church cemetery.

The family suggests that memorials be made to Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

To sign the online guest book or to send an online condolence to the family, visit McCombs Funeral Home’s website at mccombsfuneralhome.com, then click on the tribute wall tab of Phyllis’s personal obituary.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis Jean (Sperling) McClanahan, please visit our floral store.