Clark, Earl M.

Other Events:

• Military Service: Bef 1970; Korea

Earl married Sikora, Angela M. (daughter of Sikora, Adam and Wiedenhaupt, Huldina) [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Obituary: Aft 12 Dec 2014; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
Jeffrey Lewis Clark, 58, passed away on Friday, December 12, 2014, with his family by his side.
I was born on April 2, 1956 in Appleton, Wisconsin, the son of Earl M. Clark and Angela M. Sikora Clark. I miss you Dad.
I wasn't one who found his calling and worked at it for a lifetime. In 1997 I went back to school and became a paralegal, a career I greatly enjoyed. I met so many nice people and made many friends along the way. Most recently I worked in the Shawano County Circuit Court. To all of the good friends I made there - I miss you. I owned two bars, The Raven and Renegades. I met a lot of nice people at both places and enjoyed my time at both. I spent 10 years working at Bemis Converter Films in Oshkosh where some of my best friends worked. (Hi Allison, Rambo and Dennis.) My first job was riding a 3-wheeled ice cream bike with the bells on the handlebars. My biology teacher, Mr. Howenstein, called me "Popsicle Pete". My favorite job was working in Yakutat, Alaska, in a salmon smoking operation. I came back for you Cyn, as my license plate stated, "4UCYN". I observed the natural beauty and immersed myself in the quiet that is Alaska; you should experience it if you can. My tombstone reads, "All my life my heart has sought a thing it cannot name", by an author as unknown as myself.
Some of my most memorable times were spent with Grandma and Grandpa Sikora at their (then) country home/farmette. I would help water the individual potato and pepper plants. I used an old galvanized pail that I would fill on the side of the pump house. I would then carry the pail 200 feet to the huge garden (no hoses in those days). An enameled cup was used to scoop the water from the bucket and quench the thirst of every plant. In the fall, I would take my Radio Flyer wagon and go door-to-door selling squash for 5 and 10 cents apiece. Grandma always made my favorite foods after working hard in the garden. Grandpa showed me how to use a hatchet to split kindling for the coal furnace in the basement. Mom freaked out when she found out that I, as a 4 year-old, was using a hatchet. Grandpa also made me bows and arrows, as well as toys from wood. I would feed the Martzahl's cows through the fence with the apples that fell in Grandma and Grandpa's yard. I spent endless hours exploring the top level of the barn/garage that still stands today. I miss you Grandma and Grandpa.
I loved to fish. I remember my uncle Charlie Sikora talking my mom into letting me skip school to net suckers at Pamperin Park in Green Bay or attempt to ice fish for walleyes on Lake Winnebago. Netting suckers was fun because you actually had to get in the moving creek and could feel the fish bump your legs. I eventually fished for panfish with worms, worked up to small pike and bass while casting endlessly through my teen years. I discovered trout when I was about 14. Later, fly fishing was to become the only real fishing I did. I learned to tie flies about 1982 from Earl Pappe in Clintonville, Wisconsin. I discovered steelhead fishing and tying steelhead flies. I was hooked. I loved the beauty of a nice fly and the environs where the to-be-released prey lived; the gurgling of a stream, a mink on the bank, or a beaver swimming to within a dozen feet of my boots at dusk.
I remember buying my '91 Harley-Davidson in August 1991. I named her Bernadette. She and I went on many travels, the first to Alaska in 1992. I rode 4,000 plus miles one way to the Arctic Circle, alone. Eleven days to get there, 10 days to get home. At that time the Alcan Highway was under constant repair 24 hours a day due to the damage from the permafrost. I bent my front rim and pee'd blood for three days while in Fairbanks. I rode in four inches of fresh snow in Montana on the way back, close to hypothermia. I thought I was going to die. I would have done it again if the timing was right.
I was lucky to have two parents who loved me and provided me and my sisters with anything we could ever want. A nice house, a place in the summer. Dad worked so hard. He never missed a day of work at Appleton Papers in 37 years as an electrician. He worked lots of overtime and I never heard him complain. Mom always took care of us at home and worked around the holidays for extra money for Christmas and the extras we took for granted. My sisters, Amy and Judy, married long-time boyfriends and raised great kids. I am very proud of my nieces and nephews. I love you all.
Many of my motorcycle trips were in the company of Cynthia. From the first time I rode with her I knew I wanted to spend time with her off the bikes. We traveled in 100 degree plus heat for 18 days to see the Pacific Ocean and traveled hours to eat Twinkies at a wayside. We traveled the shoreline around Lake Superior, camping and meeting great people along the way. In the Smoky Mountains it rained on us for 13 out of 17 days. When it wasn't raining the humidity made it feel like it was. We cruised through northern New York, New Hampshire and Vermont with Cyn's brother, Chuck, again, lots of rain. We spent two wonderful weeks in Colorado riding in the mountains, fantasizing about living there. I think the muddy raccoon tracks on Cyn's bike in the morning convinced her to give up camping. Cyn and I flew to Alaska and rented a motorhome for two weeks, wandering wherever we wished. That was quite a vacation, no itinerary, no rules, just serenity all around. I hope I had many more road trips with you, Cyn.
I owe many of my accomplishments since 1997, to Cynthia Brown. If I had not met Cyn, I never would have returned to school, found a career I enjoyed, or met all of the nice people I did along the way. Cyn showed me how to be proud of myself and what I had become. I worked hard at my job, as much for Cyn as for myself. She showed me I deserved more from life than the unexciting jobs I had held. I found a purpose, a reason to go to work, to enjoy every day we spent together. Thank you for giving me all of our wonderful memories, my self-esteem and sense of pride. I loved you so much and hope your unfinished life goes well. Unfortunately, our life together ended and we both moved on. We had a great 15 years together. I miss you.
I have met many special people through riding a motorcycle over the years, and enjoyed their friendship greatly. I hope we were still involved in each other's lives at the end. I'd be honored to take one last ride with the Sunday breakfast group (Cynthia, Siegel's, Hayes', La Sage's, Moore's, Zitske's, Janssen's, Jay). Lastly, I want to say goodbye and thank you to Cindy Siegel. She was my confidant and a true friend. I would not have made it through 2011 if it hadn't been for her. Cindy helped show me how people are in our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. To live without regrets, and to take a chance if you get the opportunity. All my love Sweet Thing.
Well, that's it. I had a good life and treasured what I've done. Serenity now!
Jeff "Bear" Clark
Jeff is survived my his "Ma", Angela Clark, two sisters, Amy (Mike) Miller, Judy (Jeff) Polzin, 5 nieces and nephews, Jessica (Bob) Derks, Christina (Nathan) Howard, Jason Miller (fiance' Kara Jansen), Emma Polzin, Aiden Polzin, 5 great nieces and nephews, Sloane and Sutton Derks, Kolton and Brinley Howard, and Hudson Miller. He is also survived by his Aunt Joan Sikora, Uncle Harold Clark, Aunt Betty Clark, numerous cousins and many dear friends. Jeff was preceded in death by his Dad, Earl Clark, his Uncle Charlie Sikora, Uncle Leonard Sikora, Aunt Esther Sikora, Uncle Ralph Clark, Aunt Jean Clark, his maternal grandparents Adam and Huldina Sikora and paternal grandparents Lewis and Marie Clark.

In keeping with Jeff's wishes, a visitation will be held on Saturday, January 10th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Valley Funeral Home, 2211 N. RICHMOND ST., Appleton. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund is being established.
Rest in Peace Jeff, you will be greatly missed. May your motorcycle always be full of fuel, the sun always shining, and the steelhead always biting. We Love You.
To the Staff of Birch Hill Care Center, your smiles, hugs, and kisses were some of the things that made Jeff's days a little brighter. Thank you for letting him into your hearts. -

Amy married Miller, Michael K. Jr. [Group Sheet]

Judy married Polzin, Jeffrey A. [Group Sheet]