Donald Robert Clark

Donald Robert Clark, 88, of La Crosse, passed into eternal life on Tuesday, June 21st. Devoted husband and grandfather, Professor of Philosophy and Communications, WWII veteran, arts enthusiast, author, and playwright, Donald was a renaissance man.
Born March 5, 1928, to Robert and Margaret Clark in Chicago, IL, he received his education at Marmion Military Academy (’46). After high school, he entered the military, serving with the Army Corps of Engineers at the Port of Inchon in Korea. Upon his return, he used the GI bill to attend St. Joseph’s College, IN, and then pursued graduate studies in Philosophy at Fordham University, NY. He earned a second Master’s from Univ. of California, San Francisco in Radio and Television Communications. He taught in Canada and the US, ending his teaching career here at Viterbo and UWL.
His pursuits in life were varied and exciting. While working as a professor and radio journalist, Donald met the love of his life, June Adams, at a prayer meeting in Chicago. He said that the world stopped when she stepped into the room. They were married on June 19, 1975, and lived together in happy union until she lost her battle to cancer in 2006.
Although Don and June had no children of their own, the last decade of Donald’s life would be filled with what he called “the joy of family.” Two families “adopted” him as their Grandpa.
The first was a connection through June’s employer, Gerrard Hoeschler. Nancy Gerrard’s children found themselves so enamored with Don’s charming personality, caring, and grandfatherly disposition that they began calling him “Grandpa Don”. Donald met the Ruffs through the Cathedral of St. Joseph and they also knitted him into their family. Grandpa Don had perfect attendance at horse shows, dance recitals, tennis matches, high school plays and musicals, and was always the celebrated guest at holiday events. With grandfatherly affection, he shared his life, his selfless love, and his faith in Christ, becoming a part of the families.
Donald is preceded in death by his brother, Thomas LeRoy, a fallen Korean War veteran, his mother, Margaret Kelly Clark, and survived by cousin Sherrill (Thomas) Giessler , Nancy Gerrard and her husband Rick Staff and her daughters Erin & Anna Smith, Christopher and Clare Ruff, and children John (Catherine), Richard, Aaron, Chiara and Elena Ruff, adopted great-grandchildren Aria and Henri, as well as many cherished friends made through association with the La Crosse Symphony, Prayer Partners of the FSPA, Chesterton Society, Cathedral of St. Joseph and Roncalli Newman Center. Donald will be greatly missed by many.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, June 28 at 11:00 AM at the Roncalli Newman Center, 1732 State Street, La Crosse, with visitation from 9:30 AM until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcomed to the Donald R. Clark Memorial Fund.