Obit: Richards, Clarence H. (1919 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Belongie, Bruce, Cleaver, Cooney, Dahmer, Dorava, Gilreath, Glass, Hanson, Jensen, Lulloff, Marx-Felton, Richards, Terrazas, Zawislak

----Source: WIGM/WKEB Obituaries (Medford, WI) 2/15/2017

Richards, Clarence H. (15 DEC 1919 - 14 FEB 2017)

Clarence H. Richards, age 97, of Black River Falls, formerly of Owen and Goodman passed away peacefully on February 14, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family and under the tender care of Black River Memorial Hospice.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Green Grove. Reverend Donald Bruce will officiate.

Interment to follow at the church cemetery with Military Honors provided by Lublin American Legion Post #547, Owen American Legion Post #123 and the Owen-Withee Vets Club. Family and friends are welcome from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the church.

Clarence was born December 15, 1919, the son of Herman and Louise (Belongie) Richards in Goodman. He graduated from Goodman High School and this year would have been his 80th class reunion. Clarence served in the U. S. Army Air Corps in WWII, stationed in Guam and Tinian on the Mariana Islands in the 19th Bombardment Group, from 1941-45. After his honorable discharge, he worked for Goodman Lumber Company for 40 years, retiring in 1994.

Clarence was united in marriage to Darlene A. Lulloff on October 28, 1950 at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in the Town of Green Grove. She preceded him in death on November 4, 2014. Darlene and Clarence moved to Owen after their retirement and purchased a 60 acre farm.

Darlene and Clarence opened a store in their home called “Crafts by the Richards,” where they would sell crafts and woodworking projects made by them. Darlene and Clarence shared the skill of collecting maple sap. They would gather, process, and sell their maple syrup. They also enjoyed gardening and selling the fruits of their labor. Darlene and Clarence invested in a time share and would travel around the US, but especially enjoyed Branson, the Poconos and Apple Valley, OH and many trips were made to visit family in Florida and Tennessee. He also enjoyed reading, especially about WWII and the operations in the South Pacific, going to the casinos, but above all, he was devoted to his best four-legged friend, "Romeo." In 2009, they moved to Black River Falls to live with his daughter, Eileen.

Clarence was president of the Wild River Lions Club for many years and president of the Goodman Housing Authority. He also was honored to have been chosen for the Honor Flight.

Clarence is survived by his daughters: Betty (Fred) Dorava of Medford, Pat (Bob) Marx-Felton of Rochelle, IL, Kathy (Mike) Cooney of Plymouth and Eileen Cleaver of Black River Falls; his six grandchildren: Carol Dorava, Julie Dorava, Jenny Zawislak, Stephanie Glass, Neil (Becky) Dahmer and Kristen Terrazas; eight great-grandchildren: Casey, Cassidy, Carmen, Aadin, Mason, Soloman, Lilly and Felicia. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mildred, in 1949; his second wife of 64 years, Darlene; sisters: Fern Richards, Betty (Don) Jensen, Gladys (Al) Hanson and Dorothy Gilreath; a son-in-law, Frank Cleaver and his second best four-legged friend, "Dufus".

In lieu of flowers, the family will send memorials to the Honor Flight.