Thomas Clark

THOMAS H. CLARK, 98 SENECA, S.C. - Thomas H. Clark, 98, formerly of Morton, Ill., Evansville, Ind., and Rockford, Ill., passed away Friday in Seneca. Born Nov. 13, 1911, in Portland, Ore., to Frank and Gertrude (Caldwell) Clark. Married Ruth Haugen of LaCrosse, Wis., on Jan. 4, 1934. Tom met his wife in LaCrosse when she cared for him at a LaCrosse hospital after he suffered serious injury on the Mississippi bluffs. They celebrated 73 years of marriage together before she died at the age of 98. Tom was an outstanding three sports collegiate athlete at the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse, lettering in football, gymnastics and track. He set Wisconsin records in the low hurdles that lasted many years before they were bettered. He was a high school football and track coach for many years and officiated football and basketball at the high school and college level, including the Missouri Valley Conference, for more than 50 years. At one time he served as president of the Illinois High School Athletic Association. Tom was active in the Masonic Lodge and served as a grand master in Rockford. Survived by daughter, Nancee Currier (Denny) of Seneca; son, Dr. Tom Clark (Yvonne) of Morton, Ill.; sister, May Markin, of Francisville, Ind.; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Predeceased also by two sisters; and three brothers. A family service was conducted in Seneca. Cremation rites have been accorded and burial will be in Farmdale Cemetery in Tazewell County, Ill. Brown-Oglesby Funeral Home of Seneca, assisted with local services and a guestbook may be signed at brownoglesbyfuneralhome.com.