Robert Clark

Robert Clark, 95, of Pennock, died Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. His funeral service will be at 1:00 pm, Sunday, July 18th at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar. His visitation will be one hour prior to his service. Burial will be at 11:00 am, Monday, July 19th at Cloverleaf Cemetery in Willmar with military honors. www.hafh.org

Robert Leland Clark was born January 9, 1926, in Worthington, Minnesota, the son of Christian and Daisy (Darling) Schow.  He lived in the Worthington area until age 6, when the family moved to the Kerkhoven area.  He grew up in the rural DeGraff and Kerkhoven area. Robert attended country school until third grade and then attended school in Kerkhoven.  His stepfather, Lant Clark, died when Robert was 14 and he began working on the family farm.  He later worked for Reynard Nelsen on his dairy farm and for other farmers.  On December 21, 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy.  He served as an aviation machinist’s mate 3rd Class at a base near Memphis, Tennessee during World War II.  He fueled planes and occasionally flew them as well. 

After his discharge in May 1946, he joined a threshing crew that went down south and worked their way north.  He and a buddy, Curtis Johnson, drove to California, where Robert got a job at an airplane factory in Long Beach.  They later returned to Minnesota, where Robert met his future wife, Pauline Lewis, at a restaurant in New London, where she taught school.  Lewis and Clark were married June 10, 1950, at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar.  Their union was blessed with 40 years of marriage.  Robert farmed north of Kerkhoven and near Sunburg, before he and Pauline purchased their own farm near Pennock.  Robert raised beef cattle until the age of 95.  He loved farming and caring for his animals.  He was very mechanical and could fix almost anything.  His favorite pastimes were attending auction sales and eating breakfast at CashWise, where he especially enjoyed the hashbrowns.  After the death of his wife, Robert enjoyed the special friendship of Lorraine Fundingsland for many years.

Robert appreciated the kindness and care he received from his family and the hospice team during the past year.

He is survived by his five children: Lindy Clark of Willmar, Larry (and Rebecca) Clark of Willmar, Kathy (and Rick) Torkelson of Willmar, Mary (and William) Lindquist of Pennock, and Loree (and Robert) Moller of Spicer; twelve grandchildren: Chris (and Britt) Clark, Nick (and Lori) Clark, Nathan (and Tina) Clark, Erica (and Craig) Flaherty, Jessica (and Matt) Young, Matthew Lindquist, Sarah (and Chris) Schull, Isaac Lindquist, Christa (and Ben) Pattison, and Spencer (and Kirsten) Moller; two step-grandchildren: Danny Lambert and Jerry Lambert; eight great-grandchildren: Caden Clark, Austin Clark, Adelyn Clark, Olivia Clark, Marshall Clark, Zada Pattison, Liam Pattison, and Matilda Flaherty; three step-great-grandchildren; and family friend, Robert Larson.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Christian Schow and Daisy Clark; stepfather: Lant Clark; his wife: Pauline Clark in 1990; brothers: William Clark and James Clark; sister: Evelyn (and Dave) Langlett; and special friend: Lorraine Fundingsland in 2020.

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