Clark J. Pahlas, age 89, of Ripon, WI, came to the end of his journey on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at Barrett House in Ripon.
Born on June 4, 1929, Clark was raised in Elkader, IA by his loving parents Julius and Clara Pahlas. He liked to share many fond memories of growing up in this small rural town. Upon graduating from high school, Clark spent 4 years in the Navy. He then married his high school sweetheart, Grace Crider. Together they moved to Yankton, SD where Clark attended Yankton College. He went on to earn a Masters of History and a Masters of Education from the University of South Dakota in Vermilion. Next stop was Rochester, MN where Clark became the Director of the Olmsted County Historical Society. The next challenge he took on was becoming the General Manager of Palmer Method Handwriting in Chicago, IL.
After the loss of his first wife, Grace in 1970, Clark met and married Eunice Gehringer. Together they left the Chicago area to begin a new life on 60 acres in southwestern Wisconsin. Here Clark pursued all of his many interests; fishing, hunting, guiding, researching, and writing. He loved a good discussion, always trying to pass on an idea, a philosophy, or a bit of history.
Clark will be dearly missed by his son, Kim (Ann) Pahlas; daughter Sandy (John) Hasara; son, David (Mary Lou) Gehringer; daughter, Debbi (John) Edwards, daughter Cathy (Joe) Lombardo; grandchildren, Carrie, Laura (Joe), John (Heidi), Dan (Meghan), Samantha, Amy, Joe, Nick (Sara), Mike, Bria; great-grandchildren, Kaitlynn, Miles, Jack, Gracie, Graydon, Paxton, Aluetian and Atticus; as well as many good friends, young and old. He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Clara; wives, Grace and Eunice; a son, Michael Gehringer; and a grandson, Billy Maderer.
A visitation for Clark will be held from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, 515 Mayparty Drive, Ripon, WI, 54971.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home in Ripon. Inurnment will take place in Elkader, IA at a later date.
Clark's family would like to say a special thank you to Meg and Bruce Schwemmer, Dr. Ewa Paskiewicz and her nurses, Ripon Medical Center, the ER staff, the Co-Ag Clinic, and the wonderful staff at Barrett House and Hospice Hope for all your caring and support. Donations in Clark's name can be made to the Elkader Public Library, 130 N. Main, Elkader, IA, 52043, or the Muscoda Public Library, 400 N. Wisconsin Ave., Muscoda, WI, 53573.
Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send online condolences.