Aaron E. Clark

Aaron Esbern Clark passed away Monday, June 13, 2016 at Redbud Village in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 96. He was born on August 28, 1919 in rural Webster, Kansas to the late Oscar and Maude (Coleman) Clark. He grew up in Rooks County and attended school in Webster. On April 22, 1939 he was united in marriage to Mildred Louise Beckley in Oberlin, Kansas. They were blessed with four children. On July 28, 1944 Aaron was inducted in the United States Army where he served as a Squad Leader in the Pacific Theater, stationed in Guam, during WWII. He was honorably discharged January 9, 1946. After returning, he and Mildred made their home in Stockton, Kansas where he began working for Smith Furniture Store and Smith Funeral Home. In 1949 he began working for Standard Oil Company of Indiana (Later, British Petroleum) as a salesman, retiring in September 1973. Aaron enjoyed fishing, although Mildred often caught bigger fish than he did. He was also an avid competitor and award winning horseshoe pitcher. After retirement, he and Mildred began traveling in their motorhome, eventually visiting all 50 states. He was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Palco, Kansas. Aaron is survived by his sons Verle Clark and wife Lyn-Nell of Rose Hill, and Ivan Clark and wife Rita of Morrison, CO; daughter Wanda Marshall and husband Robert “Tex” of Thornton, CO; son-in-law Melvin Kats and wife Bonnie of Long Island; brother Ben Clark of CA; sisters Margaret Kerr of Topeka, Ruth Colgrove of Yelm, WA, and Naomi Maddox of Topeka; grandchildren Guy Clark and Kay Bontrager, Glenda and Allen Parsons, Kathy Lowry, Teresa and Myron Schmidt, Tod Lowry and Kathy Meeds, Trevor and Christina Lowry, Tabitha Lowry, Gay and Rod Normandin, Kimberly and Kirk Horinick, Jamie and Cliff Gallagher, Jennifer and Chuck Gates Kmet, Kerry and Dan Rucinski, Nicki and Brad Berland, and Beau and Esther Clark; 25 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Maude Clark; wife Mildred Louise Clark; daughter LaVon Kats; daughter-in-law Carolyn (Lumpkins) Clark; brothers Doyle, Vernon, and Wayne; sisters Eva, Avis, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Louise, and Christa; grandchildren Tomie Lowry, and Michael Miller; and great-grandson Ryan Desair. Aaron was a man from the Hero Generation, who worked hard for God, family, and country. Never complaining, he lovingly gave of himself every day to take care of those he loved the most, his family and friends. Although he didn’t think of himself as a hero, he was a hero in our lives whose legacy will live forever in our hearts. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Palco. Burial will follow at the Stockton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00-8:00 pm on Friday at the Funeral Home in Plainville with family receiving friends from 6:00-7:30 pm.