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Aug. 18, 1928 — Nov. 27, 2020

Sam R. Clason, of Warsaw, Indiana, and former resident of Edwardsburg, passed away at 9:33 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, at Miller’s Merry Manor, in Warsaw, at the age of 92. 

He was born on Aug. 18, 1928, in Goshen, to Lela (Rasor) Clason Buhrt and Henry Clason.

On June 5, 1953, at the age of 24 he married the love of his life, Margaret Marie (Reed) Clason. Lifetime partners in everything they did, together they raised their son and daughter and shared 67 years of marriage before he passed away. 

Sam graduated from Edwardsburg High School, in Edwardsburg. He later worked for the city maintenance department. He was a Korean War Veteran having enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 1950 and proudly served until his honorable discharge in November 1952 and served inactively until November 1956.

He was a lifelong farmer and an excellent carpenter. Sam spent 42 years living in Edwardsburg, where he was very active in his community. He was a man of many trades, and Sam worked for many companies throughout his life. He started his work in Michigan at Wendt Grain Company and delivered feed to various farms. Sam had a love for horses and spent many years enjoying them as well as being a member of the Cass County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse in Michigan for more than 15 years and volunteering for the police department.

At one time, he knew every horse in the area. Sam spent time working for various factories in Elkhart while farming after work. There he honed his carpentry skills and eventually built the home he and Margaret lived in for 42 years. His farming consisted mostly of grains for several years until he took over a roadside vegetable business from his wife’s parents.

Most folks will remember him as the “Sweetcorn Guy” on U.S. 12, often selling 100 dozen or more ears of corn a day. When he wasn’t farming, he enjoyed camping and often camped with horses during his years in the Posse. Later he switched to camping with a Good Sam Camping Club chapter. 

Sam was a devoted church member who loved going to church with his wife and family and served as deacon in the Ontwa Baptist Church in Edwardsburg for 14 years.

In 2015, he and his wife moved to Warsaw and attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Warsaw. Sam’s life journey took 92 years to complete, and within that time, he saw and accomplished many things, the most important part of his fruitful life was his family. He was a great husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be forever loved and missed.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Margaret Marie Clason (Warsaw); and his son, Steve (Rose) Clason (Pierceton). Sam leaves behind five grandchildren, Valerie Clason (Elkhart); Beth Beaty (Cape Coral, Florida); Dawn Sanderson (LaGrange); Melissa (Willie) Riehl (LaGrange); Michelle Somerset (Reseda, California); 11 great-grandchildren, Philip and Jacob Bergner; Anthony and Brooke Beaty; Chad (Jaime) Sanderson; Ryan Sanderson; Seth, Cody, Dustin, Faith and Emily Riehl. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Clason; mother, Lela Clason Buhrt; step-father, Fred Buhrt; sister, Betty Rink; his half-sister, Evelyn Cleghorn; and his daughter, Sandra Price.

Visitation was from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. Sam’s life will be celebrated immediately following visitation at 11 a.m. Sam was laid to rest with a 2 p.m. graveside service on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, in Edwardsburg Cemetery in Edwardsburg and officiated by Pastor Joe Troxel. Military rites will be conducted by the Edwardsburg American Legion Post 365.

Memorial donations may be directed to Trinity United Methodist Church, 832 E. Center St., Warsaw, IN 46580.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.