Chester Lake Clark

Chester Lake Clark, 88, Nelsonville, Mo., passed away at 2:33 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at Country Aire Retirement Estates in Lewistown, Mo.

Chester was born Aug. 22, 1933, to Harry Lovejoy and Lula Madeline Lake Clark. He was married to Delores Bornman on July 3, 1970, at Trinity Church in Quincy, Ill. 

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Delores Clark, Nelsonville; daughters, Cate Clark and Lynn (Lois) Davis; brother, Richard Clark and wife, Shirley; grandchildren, Danielle Given and Nathan Davis; and three great-grandchildren Josilyn, Kiera and Liza Jane Given.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Harry Clark Jr.; one sister, Jane Sterrett, and her husband, Wayne Sterrett; and and infant son. John Chester Clark.

Early in life, Chester owned and worked a farm, later choosing to rent it out. 

He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War era. 

Chester was an electrical engineer for Motorola and Broadcast Electronics, both located in Quincy. He moved his family to Scottsdale, Ariz., for Motorola, where he worked on NASA projects with the Apollo program. He worked at Orscheln in Hannibal as a quality control agent for several years. 

An intelligent man, whose mind was always looking for a solution, he invented and patented a special wheel chock with a gearbox for use on airplanes and trailers.

Chester obtained his private pilot’s license and loved to fly. He was a Lewis and Clark historian and loved to travel where Lewis and Clark did. He was a huge Civil War historian especially in locations in the Midwest. 

He was a “dowser” and was able to find locations, trails and trinkets of all kinds. Chester was the quintessential storyteller and could keep anyone entertained with the histories and subjects he loved to learn about.

Chester attended Emerson Christian Church in Emerson, Mo.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 11, at Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel in Palmyra. Pastor Brian Stone will officiated. Burial with full military honors by American Legion Post #174 Boots-Dickson followed at Greenmount Cemetery in Quincy.

Pallbearers were Matt Stone, Randy Stone, Lucas Strode, Rick Clark, Rusty Schleiermacher and Stuart Bartley.

Honorary pallbearers were Nathan Davis and Dennis Dawson.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, or the Honor Flight.

Online condolences may be shared, and video tribute viewed at www.lewisbrothersfuneralchapel.com.