Stan has laced on his hiking boots, grabbed his walking stick, and shouldered a backpack that is just the right weight, with just the right gear, to start his greatest adventure of all.
Stanford Clark passed peacefully in his sleep a little before midnight, on June 16th, next to Lois, the life of his life and his wife of nearly 65 years, at their assisted living residence in Trenton Village. Some may say it is one of the few things that he did peacefully, without at least some opinion or another related to the action, in his entire life. And they might just be right.
Stan’s life was full of service, travel, adventure and learning. He went to college through the military ROTC program and earned his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky and a Masters in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech. He later took advanced classes in Mining, Electrical, and Aeronautical Engineering and was just a dissertation short of a Doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis.
Once out of college Stan began what would be a lifelong career with the U.S. Air Force including service in Vietnam during the war where he earned a Bronze Star for his service. Stan continued to serve in the Air Force as a civil engineer and retired from service at the age of 70. He loved his work and was a staunch advocate of service to our country and our veterans throughout his life.
His belief in the value of service to the country, community and people, along with his passion for exploring the great outdoors saw him leading or supporting the Boy Scouts, GIrl Scouts, Explorer Scouts, 4-H Club, and St. John’s Church for most of his 50+ years in Trenton. He loved sharing his knowledge of camping, wilderness skills, and all things outdoors with several generations of Trenton’s boys, girls and young adults. There are so many Trentonians that have fond memories of some camping, backpacking, canoeing, hiking adventure, or some time at the Illinois State Fair working a 4-H booth thanks to the time that Stan shared with them.
Stan leaves behind his wife, Lois Clark, their daughters, Shelagh Fox and Sherri Pederson, their son, Carl Clark, and their grandchildren, Delaney and Devlyn Pederson and Morgan and Llwyn Clark-Gaynor. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Dana Hatter, his son-in-law Russ Fox, and his sister Phyllis Dykhuizen. In addition to his family Stan is survived by a list of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Explorer Scouts and 4-H’ers containing far too many names to list here.
In recognition of his commitment to the natural world and the environment Stan has requested his remains be cremated and returned to nature in some of the beautiful parks and wildernesses that he loved.
In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.
– John Muir
A ceremony to celebrate Stan’s life will be announced in the near future.
In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Stan’s love of the outdoors, giving back to the community and desire to make the world he leaves behind a better place, his family requests donations be made to
