In Memory

Joseph W. Clark

Joseph W. Clark

Obituaries for Tuesday, November 11, 2008
 
Joseph W. Clark, 48, of La Crosse died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at Hillview Health Care Center in La Crosse, with his family at his side.

He was born in La Crosse on Nov. 5, 1960, to John J. and Mary L. (Mekvold) Clark. He attended St. Pius X Grade School, then Aquinas High School for two years and graduated from Central High School, class of 1979, where he participated in football and wrestling. After he worked in Gillette, Wyo., for Daniels Const-ruction, he then joined the U.S. Army in 1980 and became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1981, and retried from the U.S. Army at that time. He resided in Hillview Health Care Center for 18 years. He enjoyed sports and was an ardent “Packer Backer.”

He is survived by his parents, John J. and Mary L. Clark of La Crosse; one sister, Peggy Clark of La Crosse; his twin brother, Jim of Minneapolis; brother, Bill of Los Angeles; and one niece, Kasey Clark of La Crosse. He is further survived by his aunt and uncle, Ray and Mary Ann Engh of Edina, Minn.; and cousins, Michelle (Jim) Schedin, Kathy (Ted) Davis, David (Mari) Engh, and Mike (Kelly) Engh and their children.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, George and Marie Mekvold; and paternal grandparents, Joseph and Margaret Clark.

A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2006 Weston, St., La Crosse. The Rev. Douglas Robertson will officiate with burial to be held in the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. S., La Crosse, with a Scripture service to be held at 6:30 p.m. Friends and family may also call from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass in the church on Thursday.

Memorials are preferred to Hillview Health Care Center or Mary, Mother of the Church Parish.

We wish to thank the staff at Hillview Health Care Center for the wonderful, loving care that they gave to Joe in his many years there.