John William Clark

John William (Schloesser) Clark (89) went to be with Jesus on February 1, 2022. Our beloved Dad, Poppy and Uncle John was born December 3, 1932 in Chicago, Ill to Harry and Gladys Ford Schloesser. Named after his grandfather and grocery-store owner, "Johnnie" often spent time with extended family and was adored by those who worked at the store.

After Harry's passing, John moved with his mother to Norwalk, Ohio. Edgar Clark married Gladys and adopted John in 1941 giving John a step-brother, Randall. The new family of four moved to Grandview Heights in Columbus, Ohio.

John graduated from Grandview Heights High School in 1951, married Margaret Elaine Johnson of Upper Arlington on March 15, 1952 while attending The Ohio State University, studying Civil Engineering. He graduated from OSU and was a lifetime member of the Ohio State Alumni Association, cheering on his Buckeyes in basketball and football throughout his life.

John and Elaine raised their family in Upper Arlington. He worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation. During his esteemed 33-year-career, he was an integral part of many projects in Central Ohio that Ohioans continue to benefit from today, like the design and construction of State Route 315. John was particularly proud of his initiative to install "snow-plow-proof reflectors" in the roads around Columbus. The reflectors remain to this day. While driving safely in rain and fog, Ohio residents can thank John Clark for his project.

After retiring from the state of Ohio, John and Elaine moved to Plantation, Florida in 1988 where he began his second engineering career with Broward County, working on major projects like the completion of Interstate 95. After more than 10 years, he retired again in August 2000.

John and Elaine built a house and made The Villages, Florida their home base. Avid travelers, the pair ventured all over the country in their Roadtrek, including a trip to the Lewis and Clark trail. John continued to live in The Villages after Elaine's death in 2010—they had been married for 58 years. In October 2015, John moved back to Columbus, Ohio to be closer to family.

Throughout his life, John was active in his community, as an athlete, and a singer. He played tennis well into his 70's, then switched to pickleball. He loved golfing, fishing, and boating. He had his private pilot's license and was a Mason. He sang in the church choir at First Community Church and Vaud-Villities glee club the entire time he lived in Columbus. His booming voice was easy to distinguish whenever he decided to sing… including during his last week where he belted White Christmas and Amazing Grace and lovingly repeated "You are my sweetheart" to the tune of "You Are My Sunshine" over and over, while his family sat by his bedside.

John loved people and people loved John. Wherever he lived, his family heard what a sweet man he was. He had many friends and girlfriends and fell in love again in his sunset years and married (in the eyes of the Lord) Ginny Lowery, of Grove City, OH on December 30, 2016. They lived together in assisted living, constant companions until Ginny passed away in August 2020.

Despite his dementia and failing health, John never lost his sense of humor. His quick wit, sarcasm and silliness made family, nurses and aides laugh right up to the end.

Always one to kiss his wife upon arriving home from work and telling his young daughters he loved them daily, he continued to lavish the same affection on his grown daughters, grandchildren and great-granddaughters, saying "I love you more than you know" as often as he could get it out—almost until his last breath.
John was preceded in death by his wife M. Elaine Clark of 58 years and survived by daughters Elizabeth (Steve) Adams and Carolyn Cummings, granddaughters Beth (Aaron) Bahe, Molly (Colin) Fenby, Krissy Cummings, and grandson Doug Cummings, and great granddaughters Taylor Fenby, Evie Bahe, Allison Bahe, Harper Fenby and Piper Fenby.

John's family will receive visitors at Newcomer Northwest Chapel, 10051 Brewster Lane, Powell, Ohio on Saturday, February 12, 2pm-4pm. www.Newcomerfamily.com

Donations in John's memory can be made to National Church Residences Central Ohio Hospice. (www.NationalChurchResidences.org) John's family will forever be grateful to them for taking such good care of him his final days.