Henrietta "Jean" Clark

Henrietta Jean Clark,100 years old, of Geneseo IL, passed away on 06-23-23 after a short battle with pneumonia.

Jean is the name everyone knew her by. It is the name written on casserole dishes, Christmas cards and on her beautiful paintings. Jean was born on June 15 1923 to Jane Amelia Nash Lund and Willard Levern Lund in Osco Township, Henry County, Illinois. After  graduating from Cambridge High School in 1941, she worked at the Moline Illinois Telephone Office as an operator. She married Clifford Clark in New Haven, Connecticut on April 22, 1943. While Cliff was serving his country during WWII, Jean then worked as a secretary for the Air Force. They were first stationed at New Haven, Connecticut. There Cliff worked as an airplane mechanic instructor for the Air Force. Jean worked there as a supply clerk. Jean and Cliff were also stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. Jean worked as a typist there. Cliff was sent to Alamogordo, New Mexico and Jean stayed in Geneseo, Illinois.

On November 6, 1945, Jean and Cliff were blessed with a daughter, Carol Marie Clark. Cliff received his discharge a few weeks later and the three of them moved to Geneseo, Illinois. Their son, Kenneth Leland Clark was born February 28, 1948. While their children were in  school, Jean worked part time in the grade school cafeteria. Jean was an actIve and involved member of the First Lutheran Church of Geneseo as Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher, and Cub Scout leader. Jean began a 20 year banking career, first working at the Geneseo Farmers National Bank, then Wells Fargo Bank as a teller while Cliff worked at the Post Office. She retired in 1958. Jean also developed a passion for painting and became an accomplished artist. Jean has been a member of the American Legion in Geneseo since 1945. When the Geneseo chapter disbanded, Jean joined the Orion Chapter of the American Legion. 

Jean and Cliff enjoyed traveling after retirement. They eventually called south Texas their winter home. In Texas, Jean enjoyed painting, playing cards and dancing at the  Bentson Grove RV park community. Cliff died on December 29, 1996 at the age of 82. Jean continued spending her winters in Palmview, Texas and met Duane Stephens. Together they enjoyed traveling,and visiting with the families of Duane’s adult children Jane Smith, Sue Grzadziel and Dan Stephens until his death on January 5, 2015 at the age of 83.

Jean continued splitting her time between Texas and Illinois until COVID necessitated her move back to Illinois in 2020 and eventually she moved to Stoughton, Wisconsin to live with her granddaughter, Dr. Michele Newquist and her family.

She will be missed by her son, Kenneth Clark of Lynchburg, Virginia, son-in-law, Roy Asplund, Woodstock, Illinois; sister Donna Dunlap of Topeka, Kansas; granddaughters Kathleen (Peter) Hanke of Janesville, Wisconsin and Dr. Michele (Jeff) Newquist of Stoughton, Wisconsin; five great grandchildren, Michael and Nicole Hanke; Carolyn, Emily and Connor Newquist as well as family friends Jane (Brian) Smith, Sue (Darrell) Grzadziel, Dan (Dana) Stephens.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband Clifford Clark, daughter Carol Asplund, brother Levern Lund, sister Evelyn Richter, and dear friend, Duane Stephens.

Graveyard services to be provided by Vandermore Funeral Home and First Lutheran Church of Geneseo on Saturday July 8th at 10 o’clock AM at Oakwood Cemetery 1060 S Oakwood, Geneseo, IL 61254.

Share a message of sympathy with Jean’s family at www.vandemorefuneralhome.com