Oct. 1, 1919 — Oct. 19, 2015

Clark L. Carpenter, 96, of Niles, Michigan died at 12:47 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2015 at Lakeland Hospital – Niles following a brief illness.

He was born on Oct. 1, 1919, in Niles to Wilbur W. and Mabel F. (Longenecker) Carpenter. He was graduated from Niles High School in 1938, and shortly after that infamous day of Dec. 12, 1941, he entered service in the United States Army. He served in the Pacific Theater, and was discharged as a Veteran of World War II. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters labor union local #364 in South Bend, Indiana and drove a delivery truck for Troost Brothers Furniture for many years, later driving for Great Lakes Express (GLX).

Clark was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post #26 in Niles and a member of the Buchanan Lodge #449, Loyal Order of Moose. He bowled on area leagues at the former White’s Bowling Lanes in Niles and golfed on the leagues at Plym Park Golf Course where he once carded a witnessed hole-in-one. He also enjoyed fishing, especially at the family cabin on Saddle Lake, near Bangor, Michigan. He enjoyed deer hunting in Gaylord, Michigan.

On Aug. 18, 1946, at Wesley United Methodist Church he married the former Donna L. Basso with whom he celebrated the remarkable Sixtieth anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on May 14, 2007. He was also preceded in death by an infant great-grandson, Eli Matthew Rose on September 6, 2015, and by Clark’s brother, Bernard Carpenter who died on Aug. 30, 1994.

Surviving family includes their daughters, Karen S. (Thomas) Dawson of Niles and Connie L. (Steve) Magyar of South Bend; grandchildren Greg (Susan) Dawson, Stacie Dawson, Lauren (Jathan) Rose, Allison Magyar, and Kyle Magyar; great-grandchildren, Thomas, Noah, and Chase; and Clark’s sister, Wilburta DeVries of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Clark Carpenter will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Army Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Contributions in memory of Clark Carpenter may be made to the Niles Veterans Memorial Committee.

www.halbritterfunerals.com