Obituary of Charles Clark
Charles passed away peacefully with family by his side at Brandon Regional Health Centre on January 29, 2024 at 90 years old.
A Celebration of Charlie’s Life will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Brockie Donovan Chapel, 332-8th Street, at 1 p.m.
Charles is predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Clark (nee: Baker). He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Terrance (Ann Marie) Clark and Sandra (Doug) Wilkinson; his grandchildren, Cassidy and Madison Clark, and Ashley, Ellison and Douglas Wilkinson; great-granddaughter Alice Wilkinson as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his second wife, Patricia Clark (nee: Taylor). Charles leaves behind Patricia’s children, Tannis (Alan) Fitzmaurice and Jim (Kathy) Swain; and Patricia’s grandchildren, Sean and Brett Fitzmaurice. Left to cherish Charles’s memory are his sisters, Betty McFarland and Ruth Harris; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Clark, Shirley Spratt, Marlene Johnson, and Gaye Clark; brother-in-law, Mel (Linda) Baker. Reunited with his brothers and sisters-in-law, Curtis (Iva) Clark, Bud (Pearl) Clark, Ross (Lil and Dolly) Clark, Don Clark, Harold (Phyllis) Clark and Lance (Doris and Ida) Clark; and, brothers-in-law Robert McFarland and Lester Harris. Predeceased by Dorothy’s family, Jack (Ruth) Baker, Glen Spratt and Jim Johnson. Cherished by Patricia’s sister, Frieda Lewis. Reunited with Patricia’s siblings, “Brother Bill” Leslie (Velma) Taylor, (Norm) Lewis, and Liefa (Bill) Sauter.
Charles was born on the family farm near Livelong Saskatchewan, July 17, 1933. Charlie as he was known to his family and friends was youngest of nine children born to Hope and Bessie Clark. He spent his early childhood years attending Patchgrove School and “helping” his father out in his shop. As the times were tough in the thirties for the family, the family packed all their belongings into an old Essex car and eight of them traveled to Brandon Manitoba. The Clark Family eventually built a home that is still standing on 8th Street. Although it took a while for Charlie to settle down in his working career, he didn’t stray too far from Brandon, building two more houses and essentially spending the whole of his life living on the same block.
Prior to his long career with Assiniboine Community College, he worked for Manitoba Hydro, INCO and working with his father in his woodworking and construction business, Clark’s Marine and Cabinet. It seems that Charlie had all the skills that the Clark men had inherently learned and developed, they are intelligent, they build, they construct, they fix, they invent and they teach. I am sure that his family and the children of his brothers and sisters as well as his former students will attest to this.
In 1960, he married Dorthy Baker and they were blessed with two children Terrance and Sandra. In order to further his career, he spent the next 11 years attending evening classes and going to summer school at a number of universities completing his BA Degree in 1975. Their summers were busy, camping and fishing, traveling to Bemidji for Charlie’s schooling, building houses or working and eventually playing at the Cabin “CLABAJOH Lodge” on Pelican Lake.
In 1987 Charlie met Patricia Taylor and his life entered a new chapter. Pat and Charlie loved to travel in their motorhomes, camping with friends in the summer and traveling throughout the southern US in the winters as well as working on crafts to keep them busy.
Charlie was a renowned Carpenter, who’s skills ranged from house building to making cabinets. Skills taught by his father and passed along to many others. Charlie also enjoyed Jets Hockey and Bomber Football, curling, fishing and music. He could sit for hours listening to Willie’s Road House on Sirius Radio and people watching out his front window.
In 2022, after battling various health issue, Charlie was finally forced to move off of 8th street, moving into Victoria Landing Retirement Residence until the time of his passing January 29, 2024.
Charlie will lovingly be remembered by his family members and friends for his love of life, sense of humor and kind heart.
If desired, Memorial Donations in Charles’s honour may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society
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