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In Memory

Mitchel Lee Clark - Class Of 1964 VIEW PROFILE

Mitchel Lee Clark

MITCHELL LEE CLARK

Aug. 7, 1945 - Nov. 22, 2010
SOUTH BEND - Mitchell Lee Clark, 65, of South Bend died at 10:44 a.m. Monday, November 22, 2010 in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, following a brief illness. Mr. Clark was born August 7, 1945 in Beardstown, IL to Jane L. (Gunter) and the late Neal R. Clark and had lived in South Bend since 1953 coming from Hammond, IN.

On May 20, 1989 in South Bend he married Janina K. Bratina who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Richard W. Clark of South Bend and Scott A. Clark of Cassopolis, MI; four grandchildren; his mother, Jane L. Clark of South Bend; two sisters, Diane R. Cunningham of South Bend and Joyce E. Clark-Turner (Sean) of Mammoth Lakes, CA; a brother, Neal R. Clark II (Melanie) of Raleigh, NC; a brother-in-law, Patrick McManus (Sharon) of Granger, IN; four nieces, Kathleen McCadam (Scott), Reagan Firestein (Brett), Mary Clare Fields (Steven); and 12 great-nieces and nephews.

Mitch was a devoted husband, beloved son, brother and father. He was a quiet man of few words and he made friends easily, kept those friendships for a long time, and helped all equally. He enjoyed solving mechanical challenges, a skill he used during his many years in maintenance of University Village and Cripe Street Apartments at Notre Dame. Blessed with a tall, strong body, he used his size to help all who would ask. A good joke was never lost on him. He laughed often and was quick to share his amazing store of knowledge about a variety of subjects as diverse as the Mitchell bomber, for which he was named, to puffins and other outdoor creatures. His ability to build and paint things was a source of delight to those fortunate enough to receive the fruits of his labor as gifts. This same artistry and passion for detail would lead him to spend hours each spring painting and detailing their summer weekend home, a boat named "Puffin".

However, once the work was done and she was in the water in New Buffalo, MI., Mitch could spend an equal number of hours just sitting in the sun on the aft deck of the boat watching the Galien River and feeding the birds leftover bread crumbs while Janina took photos of them appearing to eat them from his fingers. In pre-"Puffin" years, his passion had been BMW motorcycles which he rode with his brother Neal and friends in the BMW motorcycle club. One still remains stored as a reminder of the joy they brought him during those earlier years. He was also an excellent cook, one of the few who really understood and admired the power of the pressure cooker. He could exchange recipes at the drop of a hat, and always knew just what you should have used as a spice! In the last several years he and Janina were able to do some traveling and though he didn't do a great deal of verbalizing the beauty that they saw, he captured beautiful photos and enjoyed sharing his experiences with friends and family. It was his ability to quietly observe that created those shots. He was best friend to Janina, 'Big Brother' to Neal, Diane and Joyce and will be forever missed!

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 27 in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Rd. with Elder Carol Waldon of Community of Christ officiating. Cremation will follow in Welsheimer Crematory. Friends may call in the funeral home from 4 until 7 Friday, November 26th. I n lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the YWCA Women's Shelter, 1102 Fellows St., South Bend, IN, 46601 or Toys for Tots, c/o Toys for Tots Coordinator, 1901 Kemble Ave., South Bend, IN, 46613. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Nov. 24, 2010.

04/06/2023 EJS

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/southbendtribune/name/mitchell-clark-obituary?id=13943943



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