1914
Howard
2012
Howard L. Clark
April 17, 1914 — February 5, 2012
Howard L Clark died on February 5th, 2012, at the Johnson Center Memory Support Unit in Centennial CO, where he had resided since March of 2011. He was 97 years old.
A private memorial service will be held at the Johnson Center in March 2012. The family is planning a memorial service to honor the lives of both Howard and Ione Clark during the summer of 2012 in Orion, IL.
He was born on April 17th, 1914, in Henry County, IL, to J. Valentine and Alice Clark. He attended schools in Orion, IL and Cambridge, IL, graduating from Cambridge High School. Most of his formative years were spent in rural Henry County where his parents farmed. He began work after high school with the Farm Bureau in Henry County.
He married Ione Swanson on April 28th, 1937. She was the love of his life for the 70 years that they were married. They lived in Cambridge, Moline, Sherrard, and Orion, IL. Howard managed his own businesses in each of those locations, serving the farm communities in the feed and grain market. He partnered with Ross and Earl Wakey in the Moline, Sherrard, and Orion areas, ultimately operating as Clark Feed and Supply.
Howard was a businessman of the highest integrity. He valued his customers, as well as his employees, and treated them with fairness and respect. While connected to the Purina brand, he and his employees received many awards for sales goals and customer service. Yet he was most modest and humble about those achievements.
Howard was active in United Methodist Churches, serving on the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, teaching Sunday School and leading services as Superintendent for many years. He maintained a strong faith throughout his life and personified the "servant leader."
He was loyal and kind in all his personal relationships. His family was of utmost value to him. This was highly apparent when his wife Ione was ill. He cared for her daily during the last two years of her life, lovingly tending to her needs. Fatherhood was a source of pride for him. He loved and protected his daughters until his death.
Howard was known for his comprehensive memory of names, dates, places, and numbers. Until the final year of his life, when dementia so limited his mind, he could be relied on to recall details that other family members were unable to remember.
Howard is survived by daughters Sherilee Selby (Bill) and Candy Coberley (Jim Carey), grandson Christopher Clark Selby, as well as extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Ione Clark, his mother, father, sister Gladys Vincent, and brother Wilbur Clark.
Memorials may be designated to the Johnson Center, Memory Support Unit, 5000 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial, CO 80122, in care of Carol Frohardt, Director of Social Services.
Arrangements are pending at Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., Orion, IL.
A private memorial service will be held at the Johnson Center in March 2012. The family is planning a memorial service to honor the lives of both Howard and Ione Clark during the summer of 2012 in Orion, IL.
He was born on April 17th, 1914, in Henry County, IL, to J. Valentine and Alice Clark. He attended schools in Orion, IL and Cambridge, IL, graduating from Cambridge High School. Most of his formative years were spent in rural Henry County where his parents farmed. He began work after high school with the Farm Bureau in Henry County.
He married Ione Swanson on April 28th, 1937. She was the love of his life for the 70 years that they were married. They lived in Cambridge, Moline, Sherrard, and Orion, IL. Howard managed his own businesses in each of those locations, serving the farm communities in the feed and grain market. He partnered with Ross and Earl Wakey in the Moline, Sherrard, and Orion areas, ultimately operating as Clark Feed and Supply.
Howard was a businessman of the highest integrity. He valued his customers, as well as his employees, and treated them with fairness and respect. While connected to the Purina brand, he and his employees received many awards for sales goals and customer service. Yet he was most modest and humble about those achievements.
Howard was active in United Methodist Churches, serving on the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, teaching Sunday School and leading services as Superintendent for many years. He maintained a strong faith throughout his life and personified the "servant leader."
He was loyal and kind in all his personal relationships. His family was of utmost value to him. This was highly apparent when his wife Ione was ill. He cared for her daily during the last two years of her life, lovingly tending to her needs. Fatherhood was a source of pride for him. He loved and protected his daughters until his death.
Howard was known for his comprehensive memory of names, dates, places, and numbers. Until the final year of his life, when dementia so limited his mind, he could be relied on to recall details that other family members were unable to remember.
Howard is survived by daughters Sherilee Selby (Bill) and Candy Coberley (Jim Carey), grandson Christopher Clark Selby, as well as extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Ione Clark, his mother, father, sister Gladys Vincent, and brother Wilbur Clark.
Memorials may be designated to the Johnson Center, Memory Support Unit, 5000 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial, CO 80122, in care of Carol Frohardt, Director of Social Services.
Arrangements are pending at Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., Orion, IL.
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