Richard W. McClain

Last Updated on May 4, 2026 by Cass County Communication Network

Richard W. McClain, age 84, Logansport, passed away Saturday, May 2, 2026, in his residence.

Richard Warner “Rich” McClain was born to Joseph Warner McClain and Sarah Edith Stanley McClain on December 31, 1941, in Schenectady, New York, where his father was working for General Electric for the war effort.

The family moved to Noble Township in Cass County after the war to work for RBM (Essex) where his father and a friend, Bob George, built the Drive-In Theater. By junior high Rich lived in Logansport where he passed papers and caddied at the Country Club during his high school years.

He graduated from Logansport High School in 1959 and began studying at Purdue University. He was proud to be in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1968 – then he went back to Purdue to finish in 1970.

On June 7, 1969, he married the former Barrie Brandt in the Lucerne Christian Church. Twin sons, Jeffrey and Nathan, came the next year. Rich worked for CTS Microelectronics as a salesman. They moved to Brownsburg in 1973 to operate a Sunoco service station, which quickly became the Spogge Shoppe (Sandwiches, Pop, Oil, Gasoline, Groceries & Everything). Clearly, the name reflects Rich’s creativity!

In 1975 they sold the Spogge Shoppe and moved back to Logansport to buy the Captain Logan Hotel and Office Building which was sold in 1980. Rich served as City Engineer with Mayor Jone Wilson till 1984, then worked for Controls as a sales manager until 1993. In 1994 Rich was elected State Representative to the State of Indiana and served 9 terms until 2012.

He was very active in Lucerne Christian Church, serving as Sunday School teacher to the Kindergarten and First Grade, Vacation Bible School teacher to the preschool, cook for an adult retreat at Hanging Rock Christian Assembly and for countless Mother/Daughter dinners and other church dinners, Deacon and Elder, actor for the New Year’s Eve plays, and willing worker when asked for many other things.

He loved serving on the Neal Home Board. He was very proud of the affordable facility for local citizens. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce, helped with United Way campaigns, was a Mental Health Association volunteer and received an award from them for advancing legislation that was helpful to the mentally ill. He, with the help of his wife, was the 1985 Chairman of the Iron Horse Festival.

The facts don’t describe how much he loved people and life. His fellow Representatives called him Squeezer because he printed little toothpaste tube squeezers for his campaign and for sale. He was in a front-page story of the Indianapolis News and all had read the story. He was famous for NOT speaking in front of the House and having the shortest farewell speech when he completed his last term in 2012. He told stories all the time to everyone. His family and close friends knew that when someone held up an index finger, they were warning the listener, “Rule Number One: Don’t listen to Rich”. What sounded

true at the beginning was truly getting off “true”! When he told just how long the fish was he caught, his

hands spread apart as he talked. Every fisherman wanted him to describe their catch.

He loved to travel and meet people and do new things. He was always puttering and “improving” everything with his great ideas. His praises rang for Cudjoe Key and Ormond Beach in Florida, for Montana and Yellowstone Park, and he was always ready to take the next trip. He most appreciated his trip to Israel and looked forward to Paul’s Travels in Greece, a trip he did not get to take.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are sons, Jeff (Richland, Washington), and Nate (Star) (Logansport); grandchildren Brandt (Izabella Coffing), Lauran Hart (Jesse), Clark, Katie, and Saylor; and one great-grandson, Warner. Parents preceded him in death, Joe and Edith McClain, as well as his youngest brother, Joe. Surviving siblings are Bob (Kathy), Jerry, (Mary Ann), Sheryl Murphy, and Charles.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 8th, at Lucerne Christian Church, 1585 W. Frushour Street, Lucerne.

The memorial service and celebration of Rich’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 9th, also at the Lucerne Christian Church, with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Memorial contributions in Rich’s memory may be made to The Neal Home or Lucerne Christian Church.

Kroeger-Crain Funeral & Cremation is in charge of all arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.kroegerfuneralhome.com.