Harry R. Clark, age 98, formally from Allen Park, Mi, Naples Fl, passed away at Lakeview Assisted Living in Gladstone, Michigan with family by his side on July 30, 2023.
Harry was born and raised in Detroit, MI. As a young teenager, Harry was attracted to the adventure of travel which stayed with him throughout his life. He enjoyed extended bicycle trips, on his balloon tire bike to visit relatives throughout Canada. He also loved to kayak, built by him, and fish on the Detroit river. Harry enlisted into the U.S. Airforce, and served our country from 1943-1946. Harry was a Photographer Laboratory Technician with the United States Strategic Tactical Eighth Air Force, (Mighty Eighth). His duty was to develop and enlarge photos taken in England and Germany.by Military photographers. After the war, Harry found employment with the Dodge Main automobile assembly plant. There, he met, fell in love and eventually married his wife Gloria Clark on May 14,1949. They were happily married for 73 years. Harry’s final career employment, of 35 years, was working for Wayne County Register of Deeds. He started working in the record reproduction department and eventually became Supervisor of the department. An accomplished canoeist, Harry would travel to Canadian waters, over a 25 year span, to canoe and fish with friends and his son Keith.. Harry and Gloria built their own home in Allen Park, MI and resided there for 21 years. Properties in Gaylord, MI and Naples, FL were purchased prior to retirement. They were snowbirds for 6 months at each location for nearly 40 years. Gloria and Harry would travel in their 1979 camper conversion van extensively throughout the United States,Canada, Mexico, and Alaska. They enjoyed camping, backpacking, hiking and canoeing. Harry and Gloria also owned a sailboat. While living in Naples,FL. They sailed extensively in the Gulf of Florida with friends from the Marco Island Sailing Club. Extended sailing trips included locations of Fort Jefferson-Dry Tortugas National Park and the Bahamas. The sailboat is affectionately named “Gloria J” and is still being sailed by his son Keith in Little Bay de Noc, northern Lake Michigan.
Harry is survived by his son Keith (Laurene) Clark of Gladstone; grandchildren, Christopher Clark of Gladstone, Jessica (James) Cappeart of Suamico, WI and Michael (Samantha) Clark of Wells; one great granddaughter, Kylie Cappeart of Suamico,WI; brother Herbert (Donna) Clark Of San Antonia, Texas.,
He was preceded in death by his parents Harry (Eva Pogson) Clark, wife Gloria Clark, sister Betty and brother-in-law, Leland Smith..
Our family extends their thanks and gratitude to the compassionate and caring people from both U.P. Health Care Hospice and Lakeview Assisted Living.
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A fall funeral mass will be held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Linden, MI, with his final resting spot being Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lake Linden MI.