Bernard “Bert” Martin Clark passed away peacefully at 12:30 a.m. on Monday, July 18, 2022 at Lewis Memorial Christian Village in Springfield.
Born the fifth son of a farmer, at St. Vincent Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, on August 26, 1943 to James Wilbur and Bertha Agnes (Howard) Clark. Bert attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in 1965 with a BS in Agriculture. He married a beautiful girl, Jane Sue Criner, on August 19, 1965 at St. Maurice Church in Morrisonville, IL and celebrated 47 years of marriage together.
Bert worked as a farmer, carpenter, school teacher, self-employed contractor, agriculture chemical plant manager, crop insurance, certified crop advisor, and security for the State of Illinois. He was also active in the St. Maurice, St. Rita, and St. Mary’s Catholic churches. Bert also served as a school board member and president for the St. Maurice and the local public school district. In 1960, he was awarded the State Farmer Degree from the Future Farmers of America.
He was preceded in death by his wife Janet Sue Clark; parents, James and Bertha; brothers, James L., John A., and William Howard; and sisters, Louise, Lillian, Bernadette and Rose Ann.
Bert is survived by his 4 sons, Matthew (wife, Tabetha) Clark of Springfield, Timothy Clark of Mt. Dora, FL, Nicholas (wife, Glenda) Clark of Edinburg, and Samuel Clark of Valier; sisters, Margaret (husband, John) Latimer of Jasper, IN, Monica Grant of Vancouver, WA, Lenora Spencer of Elizabethtown, KY; brother, Joseph H. (wife, Shirley) Clark of Taylorville; 11 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation: The family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home, 304 Carlin Street, Morrisonville, IL 62546.
Memorial Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 22, 2022 at St. Maurice Catholic Church, 706 SE 4th Street, Morrisonville, IL 62546, with Rev. Florent Kanga as celebrant.
Inurnment will follow the mass at St. Maurice Catholic Cemetery in Morrisonville.
Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Maurice Catholic Church, PO Box 45, Morrisonville, IL 62546, or Loving Arms Crisis Pregnancy Center, 500 N. Walnut Street, Taylorville, IL 62568. Donations of food may be brought to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Morrisonville on Friday morning.
Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories of Bert, or to offer condolences to his family.
