John Peter Clark Jr. was born on January 10, 1925, on the family farm in rural Lynd to John Sr. and Anna (Elbers) Clark. He grew up on the farm and graduated from Lynd High School. On August 27, 1946, he was united in marriage to Lenice Polesky at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. The couple farmed near Marshall for a time before moving to Balaton. At age 39, John opened Clark’s Nursery, a landscape and design business. The couple moved to Marshall in the mid-1970s and later sold the Nursery and retired. John was an outdoorsman. He was involved with conservation and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He also enjoyed playing Rolle Bolle and helped build many Rolle Bolle Courts in Minnesota, Arizona and Texas. He and Lenice wintered in Mesa, AZ, for 27 years. At age 75, John began large scale chain saw carving. He completed many works including a duplicate of the crucifix from Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. John was proud of his country, passionate about Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and most fond of spending time with his friends and family. He will be remembered for his motto: Always love one another.
John died on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. He is survived by his children Linda (and Dean) Louwagie of Green Valley, Dan Clark of Boise, ID, Marcia Clark of Austin, TX, Jody (and Kraig) Mitzner of Silverdale, WA, 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lenice, siblings; Elizabeth “Babe†Boerboom, Jim, Pat and Joe Clark and Anna Marie (Clark) Kelly.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Prairie Home Hospice, the American Cancer Society or the Holy Redeemer Foundation.
