Lewis Hoover Clark

The Lord called home Lewis Hoover Clark, 93, of Toledo at 2:45 P.M. on July 24, 2022. With the help of his daughter, family, Sandra Mathenia, and Jacy Durdel, Dad got his final wish to pass peacefully at home. 

Lewis (Junior) was born on November 27, 1928, to Lewis Brookhart and Minnie Wilma (Hoover) Clark at their home in Cottonwood Township, Toledo, Illinois.  On December 11, 1948, Junior married his high school sweetheart, Wilma Marie Mitchell.  They were married for over 72 years before she passed on April 2, 2021. 

Junior walked to Grade school at Hickory Corner and then attended Toledo High school where he graduated in 1946.  After high school, he entered the U.S. Navy.  He attended bootcamp at the U.S. Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois and then served as a Seaman (SN) at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Memphis, Tennessee.  

Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to the family farm and became a lifelong grain farmer.  In his earlier years, he also had a small herd of cattle.  He started out farming with a horse and plow, eventually transitioning to tractors and combines. He was a humble farmer, never feeling the need to have the latest and greatest equipment.  In fact, he was content working on his machinery with a roll of duct tape, some bailing wire, and a can of WD-40.  Junior was also known to use the lost art of welding to repair his broken-down machinery.  He claimed to have retired many years ago, but he was still driving a grain truck and actively helping on the farm until his 93rd birthday.  Junior passed down his love of farm life to his family and was honored to enjoy a few farming seasons with his grandsons.

Junior was a devout Christian who attended the Toledo United Methodist Church for over 75 years.  His faith ran deep.  On many occasions, especially the times in particular where he tipped a tractor over, slid down a ladder from the roof of a house while cleaning gutters, and cut his pinky off when he stuck his hand under a lawn mower (hence earning him the nickname of “9”), his comment would always be: “The good Lord was on my shoulder”. 

Junior is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Jill (Ron) Mathenia, Grandchildren:  Reilly (Maekayla Sowers) Mathenia, Reid Mathenia, Jill (Josh) Frederick, and Jeremy (Jessica) Mathenia.  Great-Grandchildren:  Siena Mathenia, Logan Frederick, Rhett Mathenia, Grayson Mathenia, Layla Mathenia, and Brayden Mathenia.  He is also survived by many special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Wilma, brothers William Emerson Clark and Richard Laverle Clark, sister Carrie Eloise Flake.  Lewis was a member of Cumberland County Farm Bureau, Past Chairman of the administrative board and Member of Toledo United Methodist Church and was named the 2010 Outstanding Conservationist.

A Memorial Visitation in tribute of his life will be held at the Toledo United Methodist Church beginning at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, July 29, 2022, followed by a Memorial Service beginning at 5:00 P.M. Military Rites will be conducted after the services by the Cumberland County Veterans. The Barkley Funeral Chapel of Toledo is assisting the family with arrangements.  Memorial donations in his honor may be made to the Toledo Area Ambulance or Cumberland County 4-H.  Junior will be forever loved and missed by his family and friends. “Well done, my faithful servant. Well done!”  Online condolences can be expressed at www.barkleyfuneralchapels.com

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