Clayton Wilbur Alsberge

Clay was unique. He was a farmer and an intellectual. He was mechanically gifted and a voracious reader. He built farm implements, homes and furniture. He had a beautiful singing voice and impeccable penmanship. He was driven in his pursuit of the latest farming techniques, but enjoyed reading about ancient and obscure ones. He could spend hours discussing geo-politics with an uncommon perspective that would defy a left or right-leaning attitude, then transition into explaining why everyone should learn to weld - a skill of his which he valued highly. He was a Korean War veteran and was proud of his service, but held no illusions of the military-industrial complex. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a well thought-out point of view on most any subject. This was only matched with his need to share what he had learned or observed with anyone that had the hours to listen.

Clay spent his youth in the Salinas Valley, running track, playing football, hot-rodding with his beloved brother Charlie, and learning Spanish in the lettuce fields around Salinas, CA. He was a red-headed, blue-eyed American who fell in love with Mexico and Mexican women, two of which he married. The first, Licha (Elisa), gave him his six children. Never one to stay put, Clay spent his life on the produce trail working in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas. He never left his family behind; Licha and the kids always stayed with him. It was an interesting, but not always easy life. There were many years the family moved 3 or 4 times in a year. It was a life filled with distinct experiences. It shaped who his kids are today, and provides them a lifetime of deep reflection.

Clay spent the last 10 years of his working life in the lettuce fields of Central Mexico, consulting and starting a business building farm implements. He finally retired as the only American in a small village called Navajas, outside of Queretaro, Mexico. He became known as El Padrino de Pasteles, as he loved to be the one to provide the cake for celebrations. He built his home there using his own alternative techniques that reflected his unique way of thinking and problem solving. He prided himself in making every piece of it he could, down to the smallest hinge. He could buy a hinge for a dollar, but what was the fun in that?

He spent the last four years of his life enduring the effects of a debilitating stroke that left him wheelchair-bound and unable speak. Yet despite what happened, Clay persevered, demonstrating his tough-as-nails character. One of his greatest joys became listening to his jazz CDs which he thankfully had recorded years earlier from his favorite 78 RPMs. Communication became a challenge, but he always let you know if he was happy or mad. His moral compass stayed intact, and he let you know if you were doing the right thing, or what he thought was the wrong thing. Most remarkably, he continued to earn the respect of everyone that he encountered.

Clay was preceded in death by his father, Clayton Oliver Alsberge, his mother, Mildred Stout Alsberge, his brother Charles Oliver Alsberge and his sister Gail Evelyn Campbell. He is survived by his six children, Idalia Alsberge Rodriquez, Mildred Patricia Alsberge, Clayton Antonio Alsberge, John Charles Alsberge, Cristina Celeste Alsberge-Kugelman, Jennifer Ann Garcia, 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by the love of his life, the mother of his children, Elisa Juarez. He will join his father and brother, and will be laid to rest in the mountains and along the streams in the Central Coast range of California where he spent his lifetime hiking, camping and fishing, but always on the trail less travelled and often on no trail at all.

Clay Alsberge was one of the good guys. He was honest, fair, reliable and hard-working. He never smoked, rarely cussed, and enjoyed the occasional rum and coke with a twist of lime. He always showed up elated to see you, and with some really good stories. He spoke Spanish beautifully. He lived a completely uncompromising life doing what he wanted, when he wanted and the way he wanted. He will be remembered by those that knew and loved him best as the most amazing guy. He is our hero.