Velman Clark

Velman Clark, retired farmer and longtime Woodbine resident, died June 29, 2008, at Rose Vista Home, surrounded by his loving wife and family. He was 88 years old.

Velman was born on April 15, 1920, in Orson, Iowa, the third of seven children born to Lucian and Elva Clark. Velman grew up near Pisgah and graduated in 1939 from Pisgah High School where he met his future wife, Donna Mae Yonts. They were married in 1941 in Santa Paula, California.

The newlyweds returned to Iowa to farm with Velman's father south of Pisgah. Three sons were born: Roger in 1943, Dennis in 1944, and Darwin in 1945. In 1947, the family moved to Filmore, California, and later to Long Beach where Velman worked as a refinery stillman for Texaco. The Clarks returned to Iowa in 1951 to work the family farm. Floods took their first two crops in 1951 and 1952. They moved to the Goeppinger farm in 1953 where they resided for 16 years. Their youngest son, Roland, was born in 1955. In 1967, they purchased a farm in Spring Valley Township from Morris Moorhead, which they worked until1980.

In recent years, Donna and Velman resided in Woodbine near their son Roland and his family. They were avid square dancers, and also enjoyed camping trips in their Airstream trailer throughout the hills of western Iowa. In retirement, they enjoyed woodworking and carving, restoring antique furniture and making wooden trains, toys and figures for their seven grandchildren. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2006, and moved to Rose Vista Home in 2007.

Velman was preceded in death by his sister, Eleanor Peterson and brothers, Francis and Delmar. He is survived by his wife Donna of Woodbine; sons Roger of Woodbine, Dennis (Mary Ellen) of Delmar, California, Darwin of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, and Roland (Mary) of Woodbine; grandchildren Cathy, Scott, Brian, Thayne, Ryan, Reid and Ross; great grandchildren Danielle, Matthew and Sky; and brothers, Herb & LeRoy Clark of Pisgah, Iowa and Lawrence & Yvonne Clark of Richmond, Missouri.

Funeral Services
10:00 am Thursday, July 3, 2008
First Christian Church
Woodbine, Iowa

Clergy
Pastor Ron Riley

Musicians
Bob Smith
Rick Powell

Selections
"How Great Thou Art"
"Seein' My Father in Me"

Pall Bearers
Cathy Clark Collins ~ Scott Clark
Brian Clark ~ Ryan Clark ~ Reid Clark
Thayne Clark ~ Ross Clark

Final Resting Place
Soldier Valley Cemetery
Pisgah, Iowa