Memorial
Thomas Edward Clark, 91, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital, surrounded by his family. Services: 11:00 a.m. Monday at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, officiated by the Rev. Sherry Ilg of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Burial at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories Stateroom and at the chapel on Monday at 10:30 a.m.
Survivors include his daughters, Chris (David) Bauer of Marion, Cindy (Mark) Slater of Moline, Illinois, his grandchildren, Jason Bauer (Tamara Veenstra) of Redlands, California, Julie (Tony) Garry of Lake Zurich, Illinois, Austin Slater of Moline, Illinois, his great grandchildren Isabella and Jack Garry of Lake Zurich, Illinois, his brother, Jack (Kathleen) Clark of Lorain, Ohio and his nephew, nieces and their families, Jack (Cathy Diane) Clark, Kathy (Roger) Benson and Connie (Curt) Sobel.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife and best friend of sixty years, Wilma D. (Borden) Clark, and his parents. He was born June 12, 1925 in Lorain, Ohio, the son of Thomas Albert Clark and Ethel Josephine (Billings) Clark.
Tom graduated from Lorain High School in 1943, and on his eighteenth birthday he joined the US Navy. Tom served proudly in World War II. He married Wilma D. Borden on May 31, 1952 in Waterloo, Iowa. Tom started his career selling wholesale hardware for Harper & McIntire in Cedar Rapids in 1948. He was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, American Legion Post # 298 of Marion, Iowa, Past Master of Mizpah Lodge #639, and El Kahir Shrine. Tom was in the Greeters Unit and a member of the El Kahir Shrine Foot Patrol Unit participating in numerous parades and competitions. Tom also helped transport children to the Shriners’ hospital in Minneapolis.
Growing up in Ohio, Tom was an Ohio State Buckeye football fan and continued to cheer them on (unless they were playing the Hawkeyes). Tom and Wilma were dedicated Hawkeye fans, especially football. He also enjoyed road trips to Chicago to watch the Cubs play. Tom was an avid collector of Shriner memorabilia and Hawkeye Bowl and Homecoming buttons. Tom loved to travel the world with Wilma and his family. He was thrilled and honored to be on an Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington, DC to visit the National World War II Memorial. He will be missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the El Kahir Shrine to be used for the Building Fund and the Transportation Fund or to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.