Richard Bruce Clemmer

Richard "Dick" Clemmer, 83, died peacefully on August 29, 2025. Dick was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, on October 24, 1941. He was raised in Austinburg, Ohio, as the middle child of five sons of Richard and Wilma Clemmer. He graduated from Austinburg High School, Kent State University, and received a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago. He married Susan Chown in Chicago in 1968 and together they raised their two daughters, Elizabeth Clemmer Knowlton and Rebecca "Cat" Clemmer.
Dick began his teaching career at Georgia State University, where he taught for five years. While there, he co-authored a textbook on urban economics with two colleagues, which saw three editions published. He next worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) in Washington D.C. in research and development for eight years. Public housing was one of his areas of expertise. During his time at H.U.D. he served on the Presidential Housing Commission under President Ronald Reagan.
Dick then returned to teaching, his primary vocational love. He was a professor at Central Michigan University for 25 years, also serving as the department chair for eight years. Throughout his career, he had a passion for mentoring, especially his international students. He never failed to learn from them about their languages and cultures and assisting them in their future endeavors. He was known for his integrity, humility, and collegiality throughout the university community.
Throughout his life, Dick had an avid intellect, sense of curiosity, and a love of reading and learning. His daughters remember countless evenings of being read aloud to, complete with voiced characters, from the Hobbit and Watership Down. He considered learning a lifelong journey and read broadly across many disciplines. He was impossible to best when it came to any game involving trivia, as several of his daughter's suitors quickly learned. When preparing to travel he took seriously learning the language and culture of where he was going, even when that involved the same Berlitz travel records being played aloud for months at a time
He enjoyed playing golf, from the time he worked on a golf course in Ashtabula as a teen. He worked at Tru Temper, a company that manufactured golf clubs, while in college, and made and adjusted his own clubs. He played in the CMU league for many years and enjoyed the friendships that formed there.
Dick loved music and taught himself to play the guitar and loved to sing folk songs. Those times of sharing are lasting memories for all who heard him play. He had a deep appreciation for classical music as well, and there was rarely a time when it wasn't playing in the house. He sang in the Midland Center for the Arts Chorale for over 20 years and performed in several musicals on stage there, bringing great joy to those endeavors. He served on the Music Society Board for several years and supported the Midland Symphony. He loved opera from the first time he attended one in DC. Seeing Die Fledermaus in Vienna was a highlight of his musical life.
A man of quiet faith and introspection, his deep sense of personal integrity, humility, kindness and care for all people was deeply informed by his practice as a member of the Society of Friends (the Quakers). He was an active member at the Pine River Friends Meeting in Mt. Pleasant, MI, serving as the treasurer for many years. Respect for others, integrity, compassion, and nonviolence were central tenets of his life. While he rarely discussed these beliefs, they were evident in all aspects of his life.
He cared deeply about his family and friends and the world. He had a lively sense of humor that might have seemed eccentric to those experiencing it for the first time. He adored his "girls," Sue, Beth, and Cat. He loved to tell the story of meeting his beloved wife at a New Year's Eve party, which required an amazing confluence of events to even happen. There may still be some disagreement about who sat next to who first, but it changed both of their lives forever. He gave his daughters a deep sense of their own worth and encouraged them to set their own course.
His pride and delight in his family only expanded when his two grandchildren, Rebecca and Amanda, came on the scene. They have many fond memories of visiting Michigan and experiencing their grandpa's goofy sense of humor, including an eerily convincing Gollum impression and his engagement with Sesame the cat. His knowledge of trivia was evident when they watched Jeopardy as well as countless other facts shared during commercial breaks, including the ideal amount of cents to carry in your pocket. He was proud to see his granddaughter Rebecca follow in his footsteps when she was awarded her Ph.D. in Statistics this past spring from the University of Texas.
Dick lived with the symptoms of Huntington's Disease, a genetic progressive neurological disease that impacts, movement, thinking and mood, for over 20 years. Despite his diagnosis, he did not let it stop him from enjoying life. Attending Seasons Adult Day Program and his final year at Kings Daughters Home saw him continuing to engage in the activities he loved. The family is grateful for the many people who provided him such superb care in the final stages of his disease.
Dick is survived by his beloved family including his wife of over 57 years, Susan, his daughters Elizabeth Clemmer Knowlton and Rebecca "Cat" Clemmer and grandchildren Rebecca and Amanda Knowlton. He is also survived by brothers Robert (Nancy) and Lynn (Joanne) Clemmer as well numerous nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law Agnes (Craig) Harmon and Gail (Gerry) Clemmer. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Duane and Gerald Clemmer, sister-in-law Carolyn, and niece Susan Clemmer.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Huntington's Disease Society of America, Seasons Adult Day Service (Midland Senior Services), King's Daughters Home of Midland, or the charity of your choice.
A service of celebration for his life and spirit will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the United Church of Christ Midland. The Reverend Roger C. Pancost will officiate. The family will receive people at 1:00 pm at the church and a reception will follow the service.
All of us at Ware Smith Woolever are honored the Clemmer family has entrusted us with the care of their loved one. Condolences to the family may be made at wswfh.com.