Neal F. Clark

Neal Francis Clark, 77, of Chatham, passed away on Sunday April 21, 2013 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born on October 31, 1935 in Armstrong, Illinois, to Paul and Daisy Kelso Clark. He married Dorothy Hislop on July 31, 1954 in Cissna Park, Illinois, and she survives.

Neal is also survived by two sons: Roger Clark of Chatham, Illinois, and Randy (Peggy) Clark of Allen, Texas, six daughters: Karen (Jerry) Commean of Chatham, Illinois, Paula (David) Elendt of Garland, Texas, Nancy (Dan) George of Springfield, Illinois, Sandra Clark of Pattison, Texas, Mary Horn of St. Louis, Missouri, and Julie (Randy) Yelverton of Peoria, Illinois, twenty six grandchildren (one deceased), six great-grandchildren, two sisters: Juanita (Joe) Voda of St. Louis, Missouri, and Joyce Easterday of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Neal worked for AC&R as a plant manager and retired as Vice-President and General Manager from Henry Valve Company in 1998. Neal was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chatham. Neal was a devoted and dearly loved family man. He will be remembered for his kindness, wisdom, integrity, and sense of humor. We will miss watching Cardinal games with him and losing to him at pinochle. He used to say that while he may not have had a lot of money in the bank, he was rich in children. He was well known for his hearty laugh and his cheerful whistling. He was the go-to man for any home or car repairs as well as any other concerns we had. He loved to take his children fishing, throw a ball around in the backyard, or even help build a go-kart from wooden crates.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1225 North Main Street in Chatham Illinois with Rev. Clarence Rogers officiating, and burial will follow services at Chatham Cemetery. The family will meet friends from 4-7p.m. Friday at Bisch Funeral Home West, 2931 Koke Mill Road. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chatham and please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com.