John M Clark

Services for John M. Clark, 76, of Groton will be 10:30 am, Friday, September 5th at the First Presbyterian Church, Groton. Rev. Terry Kenny will officiate. Burial will follow in Huffton Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton. www.paetznick-garness.com Military honors will be provided by Groton American Legion Post #39.

Visitation will be held at the chapel from 4-8pm on Thursday with a prayer service at 7:00pm. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

John passed away September 1, 2008 at the Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

John Miller Clark was born on June 19, 1932 in Aberdeen to John L. and Joy S. (Miller) Clark. He attended country school in Putney through the 8th grade and graduated from Groton High School in 1950. John enlisted in the US Air Force, where he served in the Korean War. Following his discharge, he returned home and enrolled at Northern State Teachers College. John united in marriage with Mary Anne Erwick on December 6, 1958 in Aberdeen and together they made their home near the family farm.

John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Groton where he had served as an elder and trustee. He also belonged to the Groton American Legion Post #39. Along with his many years of farming, John also was active in Valley Farmers Elevator and the Groton Truck Center. He was an avid farm toy collector and enjoyed hunting. John's nickname was "The Duck". While hunting with his nephews, Lanny, Bob and Bill Swisher, John was affectionately called "Uncle Duck".

Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife, Mary Anne, two children; John T. (Kelly) Clark of Groton, Jill (Dennis) Gallaher of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, three grandchildren; Patrick James Gallaher, Timothy Michael Gallaher, Kennedy Katherine Clark and two sisters; Mary Swisher of Groton, Joy E. Butz of Green Bay, Wisconsin and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents and three brothers-in-law; James Erwick, Jay Swisher and Donald Butz.

Honorary Casketbearers will be Orville Schaller, Dick Kolker, Larry Schelle, Jerry Rix, Jerroll Erdmann, David Doeringsfeld, Robert McFarlane and Leonard Broman.

Casketbearers will be Terry Thompson, Leo Kersting, Art Gengerke, Collin Gengerke, Bob Swisher and Bill Swisher.