Plankowner
Posts: 5024
Location: Gulfport, MS | Subject: Saturday Obit
CLARK, Robert Gerald, son of Leslie Orlando and Corda Lillian (Hart) Clark, was born January 4, 1935, in Green Bay Township in Clarke County, IA and died Monday, September 19, 2022, at Clearview Home in Mt Ayr, IA at 87. Gerald attended school in Osceola and at the age of 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, which began a 23-year career that took him around the world. He served on submarines including the USS Tullibee and USS Tiru during his many deployments. Gerald was a submariner, underwater demolitions expert, Navy parachutist, company commander, recruiter, and career counselor to mention a few. He retired at the rank of Senior Chief Torpedoman. Gerald married Delores Elizabeth Alford on July 31, 1956, in Key West, FL and they had 3 children: Donna, Debbie, and Robert. Gerald returned with his family to Osceola in 1970 and purchased the Lyric Theater, he also owned the Uptown Hotel & Café. Gerald was elected to the Osceola City Council and 2 terms as Osceola. He was a charter member of the Osceola Eagles Lodge Aerie #3495, member of the Davis Pence Post #69 of the American Legion, and member of the V.F.W. He loved flying and building airplanes; he was active with the Osceola Airport and getting the new airport built and was also an inspector for Experimental Aircraft Association. Gerald's wife Dee preceded him in death in August of 1989. Gerald married Lynnette Cox-Atkinson on July 17, 2010, in Osceola. Together they were active with the Osceola Eagles and enjoyed family activities. Those relatives who preceded Gerald in death were his first wife Dee Clark, daughter Debbie Clark, parents Les and Corda Clark, grandsons Jacob and Joseph Adair, son-in-law David Adair, sister Barb Philpot (husbands Kenny Symonds and Bill Philpot), sister and brother-in-law Virginia and Clarence Scholl, niece Joyce Marie "Sue" Taylor, and stepson Tory Cox. Gerald leaves to cherish his memory: wife Lynette Clark, daughter Donna Lynn Adair, son Robert Joseph (Nila) Clark, stepdaughter Annette (Johnny) Miler all of Osceola, IA and stepdaughter, Suzanne (Chuck) Craig of MS, and three generations of grandchildren. Funeral was Saturday, at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola. Navy Military Honors were at Maple Hill Cemetery in Osceola. Memorial contributions may be directed to Osceola Eagles Lodge Aerie #3495 Osceola, IA 50213 Online condolences may to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com Posted online on September 24, 2022. Published in Des Moines Register
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Saturday Obit
