Patrick Murch Clark

Patrick was born on Aug. 9, 1937 at McRae Hospital in Alpena, MI to Milton and Margaret (Murch) Clark. He attended St. Bernards Catholic School as a boy, and graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1955. There he lettered in Football as a Tight End and co-captain of the team. He led the Thunderbolts, as the Captain of the Basketball team to several winning seasons. Patrick joined the Navy upon graduation and attended the Great Lakes Naval Academy Training Center. Out of 2,200 Seamen recruits, Patrick received the American Spirit Honor Medal and was also honored by his company of 30 men, having displayed outstanding quality of honor, duty, loyalty, leadership and high example of comrades in arms. Upon his graduation from basic training Patrick served in Corpus Christi TX as a weatherman during the end of the Korean War. He returned home and began attending Alpena Community College, his life got busy, but he finally graduated in 2013 with his grandson.

In 1959 Patrick married Sharon Karsten and together they had 7 children. He is survived by three of his sons, Milton (Colleen) Clark, Michael (Jodi) Clark, Shane (Tarra) Clark, and his daughters, Patricia Clark, Marie Myers and Jennifer (Tim) Meyers. In 1972 Patrick married Terri Stelzer and had a son. Patrick was preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters, Peggy Gee and Joanne Muszynski, his ex-wife Sharon and wife Terri, his sons Jeffery and Todd Clark and his son-in-law, A.J. Myers.

Patrick owned and operated many food and beverage establishments and employed hundreds of people throughout his career. He was a fair and understanding Boss, with a sensitive heart and many of his employees became family, and many of his family enjoyed working with him over the years. Patrick retired from Raytheon where he served at the AUTEC Navy/Submarine Base in the Bahamas. As District Manager, he employed and supervised people from all over, including local Bahamians whom he loved and gave generously of his resources.

Patrick returned to Alpena and spent the next 24 years enjoying the company of his loved ones and watching his family grow. He was affectionately known as “Papa Pat” to his 20 grandchildren and his 14 great-grandchildren and “Uncle Pat” to his many nieces and nephews, whom he loved, adored. He had many friends, old and new, and loved his hometown of Alpena, counting it as one of his greatest blessings.

Through the years Pat taught us many things, especially how to pick yourself back up again and more forward with what God has given you. He rode a bike until 87, became a Eucharist Minister, and was a huge fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, never missing a game, even traveling to Dublin Ireland to see the Irish and Navy play. In his prime, Patrick sailed the “Cat Boat Races” at the Alpena Yacht Club and raced with a crew in the Huron Port to Mackinaw Island Race. He enjoyed and loved his animals, whether feeding deer or ducks or loving on his adoring little furry companions. Patrick knew that his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ had made him perfect in God’s eyes. His relationship with Christ grew, his faith grew. Dad prayed everyday for each and everyone he held near to his heart, taking him hours a day in his final years, and he was looking forward to his Heavenly Home with Jesus. He got to celebrate that homecoming on his 88th birthday. What a glorious way to go!

A Catholic Burial along with a celebration of life and luncheon, will begin at Holy Cross Cemetery (near the statue of Jesus), Saturday, September 27th at 11am.