Charles M. Clark, 82, of Fort Dodge, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge, surrounded by members of his immediate family. He had been in failing health for the past five years.
Cremation rites will take place at the Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, at the Gunderson Funeral Chapel with Monsignor Kevin McCoy officiating. Military honors will be presented by V.F.W. Post No. 1856. The family will greet friends today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Charles is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 58 years; three children and their spouses: John Charles Clark and wife Karen of Cedar Rapids, Dr. Claudia J. Tyburski and Dr. Robert E. Tyburski of Lawton, OK, and Kathryn Noel Dodson and Roger Dodson of Dayton, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Jeff Clark and Kyle (Chris) Clark of Cedar Rapids, Amie Clark of Pine Hill, N.J., Libby and Collette Tyburski of Lawton, OK, and Kelsey and Charlie Dodson of Dayton. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Charles Maurice Clark was born Jan. 19, 1927, at Sioux City, Iowa. He was the only child of Charles H. and Mary Herman Clark. The family moved to Carroll, Iowa when he was five years old. At the age of 17 years Charles enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a radioman aboard the USS Robert H. Smith DM-23 and on a landing craft in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a Petty Officer 3rd Class (RM-3) and was stationed on Okinawa during the typhoon. Following the war he returned to Carroll and completed his senior year at Carroll High School. Charles trained as a chef for the Boss Hotels in Des Moines, and worked at the Randolph and Savery Hotels there. Charles and Dorothy Jean Buchheit of Carroll were married Nov. 3, 1951, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ames. They made their home in Des Moines before returning to Carroll, where Charles worked for several years as a sales representative for Peterson-Biddick Seed Company. Charles then attended telegrapher's school in Minneapolis, MN, and began working for the Great Western Railroad as a station agent/telegrapher. He subsequently worked for the North Western Railroad, and the family moved to Fort Dodge in the mid-70s when Charles was employed at the Northwestern Depot and yard office. He retired from the railroad in 1986 after 32 years of service. He then worked part-time at K-Mart, Winnebago Industries of Forest City and Automatic Transmissions of Fort Dodge, delivering RVs and transmissions all over the United States.
He was a former member of the Fort Dodge Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus and the American Legion Post at Carroll. He was a member of The Tin Can Sailors and the CNW Historical Society. Charles loved to play cards, especially Black Jack, and loved getting together with his cronies for a good game. He enjoyed daily breakfasts at local restaurants and delis.
Memorials may be directed to the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home.
