"I JUST READ THE PAPER. 1 WEEK LATE. SO SORRY ALICE TO HEAR ABOUT BILL. He was a great man. HE WILL BE MISSED BY MANY. I enjoyed my talks with Bill and Our OLD friend EARL COSBY. RIP. BILL."
In loving memory of
William 'Bill' Sheppard Clark
July 10, 1933 - August 7, 2016
WILLIAM CLARK
MUSCATINE, Iowa - William 'Bill' Sheppard Clark, 83, of Muscatine, passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2016, at Premier Estates.
Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 Noon on Thursday, August 11, 2016, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Reverend Larry Hill will officiate. A funeral luncheon will be held at the American Legion following the service. A private burial will take place in the Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 12:00 Noon on Thursday, August 11, 2016, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to family in care of Alice Clark. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com
William was born on July 10, 1933, in Steelton, Pennsylvania, the son of James Sheppard and Serressie Tibbs Clark. He attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. He married Alice Willis on January 7, 1960, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He was a veteran of the US Army serving from 1953 until 1955, and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War.
He retired in 1997, after 21 years of service from North Star Steel in Wilton, where he had worked as a superintendent. He was a member of the Electric Metal Makers Guild, The Iron and Steel Society, and the American Legion Post #27. He enjoyed reading, fishing, and hunting. He especially enjoyed history.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Alice Clark of Muscatine; his children, James Clark and wife, Kelly, of Poulsbo, Washington, Timothy Clark and wife, Eva, of Aurora, Colorado, Belinda Church and husband, Cory, of Aurora, Colorado, and Shevon Velez and husband, Ben, of Muscatine; six grandchildren, Demetrius Clark, Adeline Clark, Emma Clark, Gabriella Church, Amelia Velez, and Lela Velez; one great-granddaughter (Jayiah); one sister, Ruthie Oliver and husband, Raymond, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; many nieces and nephews; and a special sister-in-law, Carlene Willis of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and one sister.
Tributes
"Alice and Family, I was just told of Mr. Clark's passing this evening. Our family sends our deepest sympathy and prayers. Mr. Clark will such a wonderful man who you could always get a beautiful history lesson from. God is with you all. Blessings, Art & Annabell Williams-Blegen and Family"
"Alice, Jim, Tim, Belinda, and Shevon, I just saw this today, so I missed Bill's service. I'm so sorry to hear of his death. He was always so sweet to me and very friendly. He will be missed. May God give you strength and peace, and may your memories comfort you. "
"I had the pleasure years ago in meeting Bill at our place of work. I always enjoyed our chats and he always had such good advice and would give me comforting words when I most needed it. I am saddened by the loss but will treasure his smile and kindness."
"I remember the day I met Bill and Marty Vitale hired him at Iowa Steel Mill. Bill was a great employee who taught, directed and mentored everyone that he met. Bill was an asset from day one and I am very glad that he was in the dash between the dates that will define my lifetime. Our project was to build the most efficient and safe steel mill possible (within our limited budget) and Bill's contribution was significant. Bill is most remembered for his positive impact on all people and situations that he encountered, an exceptional compliment. He is imbedded in my memories as a wonderful person who I am glad i had the privilege of working with. Our sympathy to Alice and family. Herbert Wilson, first employee at Iowa Steel Mill"
"Still remember working with Bill at the start-up steelmill in the middle of a corn field in Wilton, Iowa. He sure helped me feel comfortable in an unfamiliar setting. Enjoyed the times we got to talk during those midnight shifts. Amazing what you can learn at 4 am. "
"First, let me send condolences to the family. Weedie was the brother to my dear friend Ruthie. My family and his family have a long history of togetherness not probably not known by many. My fondest memory of him was when he came to visit his sister in NC where we live and he decided to visit after many many years of not seeing each other. I was excited that he was coming. He insisted on bringing a little gift. My husband had just passed, so I was happy to a familar face. He rang the doorbell and when I opened the door he had a fancy little bag which he put in my hand and guess what it was. A BOTTLE OF SWEET GRAPE WINE. I still have that EMPTY bottle. lol RIP to a great family friend. "
"We will truly miss him, especially at our family reunions. Weedie was always the go to guy who would cheer everyone up. Our condolences go out to the family. We are sorry we cannot attend but our thoughts and prayers will be there."
"I had the priviledge to care for Mr. Clark at premier estate of muscatine and some of the conversations that was understandable were interesting. I loved watching true love between mr and mrs clark in a daiky basis. He was a good man that will be missed."
"I worked at North Star Steel Co. with Bill from the plant start up in 1976 through the next 8 years. Bill was a mentor to me. I learned so much from him. He was a great guy that I am proud to have called my friend. God Bless you Bill. RIP"
"I had the great privilege of knowing this incredible, intelligent man by entering into his family thru marriage to his son Tim. When I first met Bill, he quizzed me about historical events and facts about Mexico...I told him I may be Mexicam but I was born in Nebraska Bill..lol. He was and is a great role model to myself, my husband and our son and we will forever cherish his memory by carrying on his legacy of being proud to be a Clark. Love you Bill."
"I remember meeting Bill at Belinda and Cory's wedding in Muscatine and immediately loved the man! Such a graceful dancer on the dance floor and loved talking with my soon to be husband, Gary, about anything and everything - he made us feel like "family". The world has lost a wonderful man, he will be missed by all dearly!"
"Bill and I grew up together in Steelton, Pa. Through our many associations and contacts, we grew and progressed in a unique culture. Bill was known as "Weedie" then because of his towering height which was unique in that era. He was an accomplished athlete (Football and basketball) and was an avid outdoorsman which gave rise to a number of "capers" he was part of with his compatriots, Wesley Super, Melvin Jackson, et al. Weedie was a jokester who enjoyed pranks and was always telling stories and making people laugh. He was well read and was especially drawn to African-American history which he knew very well. Perhaps his thirst for African-American history was generated by the teachers we had in the all-black Hygienic School which we attended from First through 8th grades...and is a whole story unto itself. Grant to him, oh Lord, rest eternal and my light eternal shine upon him. "