Peggy Lee McClard

Peggy Lee McClard, 86, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, at Chateau Girardeau Nursing Home.

She was born Anny Auguste Ottilie Hidde on March 18, 1929, in Berlin, Germany, to August and Ida Sophie Marie Sandhoff Hidde.

A victim and survivor of World War II, she and Sgt. Arlee McClard were married March 12, 1956, in postwar, occupied Germany. Shortly thereafter, they came to the United States. On Sept. 13, 1961, in Monterey County, California, Ann became a naturalized American citizen, choosing her name to be Peggy Lee McClard. She often had remarked that that was the happiest day of her life, and she was very proud to be an American citizen.

As time marched on, Arlee became an ordained Pentecostal minister, and Peggy was his right hand. They ministered over 20 years in various Pentecostal churches, moving from Hutchison, Kansas, to Cape Girardeau in the early 1990s. They ministered briefly in Cape Girardeau before retirement. They had been married 44 years when Arlee passed away Oct. 12, 2000.

Loving survivors include several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and five brothers.

Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until time of service today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. today at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer officiating. Peggy will be laid to rest privately next to Arlee at New Bethel Cemetery near Pocahontas.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.