NILES — Ira Clark, 87, of Niles, passed away at Buchanan Meadows on Friday, July, 16, 2010.

Ira was born on March 29, 1923, to the late George and Nettie (Park) Clark in Owen, Wis.

After graduating from high school he joined the U.S. Army and served his
country with the utmost pride and honor during World War II.

He received the bronze star, multiple purple hearts and a prisoner of war medal.
He founded Blue Bird Trails, rescuing the blue bird from extinction and was one of the founders of the local Big Brothers chapter, which is now Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berrien and Cass.

He was a  board member of Cross Coulter Ministries and also enjoyed volunteering his time at Fort St. Joseph Museum.

He is preceded in death by: his parents; son, Colin Clark; grandson, Anthony Jones; brothers, James and Earl Clark; and sisters, Mildred Port and Fern Borst.

Ira is survived by: his loving wife of 63 years, Barbara Clark; two daughters, Nancy Watts of Donna, Texas, and Danna (Tom) Jones of South Bend, Ind.; grandchildren, Ken Jones, Jennifer (Connie) Lesmeister and Jennifer Watts; great-grandchildren, Jared Lesmeister, Jesse Lesmeister, Jeremy Lesmeister and Adrian Thomas; brother Lyle (Kay) Clark of Plainfield, Ind.; sister, Jessie Corwin of Niles; and three special friends, Wayne Stiles, Bob Varney and John Ericson.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and riding the roads on his motorcycle.

Funeral services to honor Ira’s life will be Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at 2 p.m. at Mission Hills Memorial Chapel, where friends and family will gather one hour prior for visitation.

Pastor Tony Tomasino will be officiating the service.

Memorial donations may be made in Ira’s memory to Grace United Methodist Church, 501 Grant St., Niles.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services and Mission Hills Memorial Chapel.