Obituary of Kenneth Walter Clark
It is with an appreciation for a life well lived that the family of Kenneth W. Clark announces his passing which occurred on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Ken was born at home on Duke Street in Saint John on August 8, 1928. He was the son of the late Walter and Helen (Hawkins) Clark, and husband of the late Greta (Jordan) who passed in 2013 after over 62 years of marriage.
A long-time resident of Torryburn (Saint John), and then Chapel Hill Estates (Rothesay), Ken will be remembered as a straightforward man who was honest, attentive and reliable.
Ken’s working life always involved numbers, and he was naturally suited to his many pre-retirement years doing payroll and accounting at the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires in Saint John. Prior to that, Ken had taken over his father’s business (W.E. Clark Co. Ltd.) after his untimely death in the mid 1960’s. The automobile service station, and separate mechanic repair shop, were fixtures in the Saint John north end for decades. Ken enjoyed his retirement for over 30 years.
Dad had a passion for going for drives and was still safely behind the wheel into his 95th year. He especially liked exploring the rural roads of St. John and Kings County. He had an appreciation for the solace nature provided, so he would often be found amongst the vegetable and flower gardens that he tended with our mother. We have fond memories of our father’s sense of adventure and the yearly car camping trips we made throughout the Atlantic provinces and beyond. When retired, our parents expanded their travel horizons in a new Roadtrek camper van in 1994, leaving only Nunavut and the Northwest Territories as gaps in their exploration map of North America. They also had a camper van trip through New Zealand thrown in for good measure, plus numerous cruise ship voyages. In his later years Dad spent several winters in Tobago.
Those who knew Dad will remember his pleasure in “properly” cooking top quality beef, and how his door was always open to anyone who wanted to play cards, especially Bridge or Cribbage. He was amazingly adept at those games throughout his life.
The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to his wonderful neighbours in Chapel Hill who always looked out for Dad with food and visits. We would also like to thank the caregivers from Palliative/ extra mural team, and others, who made it possible for Dad to remain at home these past weeks, something he dearly wanted to do.
Ken is survived by his sons, David (Anne Bardou) and Paul (Dianne) Clark; daughter, Linda Fitzgerald; grandchildren: Madeleine Bardou-Clark, Tierney Fitzgerald, Meghan Fitzgerald, Bridget Fitzgerald, Patrick Fitzgerald, Kaitlyn Clark and Jonathan Clark; nieces Laurie (Wilcox) Ladmore, Elizabeth Plummer and Stephanie Plummer; and his nephews, Stephen Wilcox and Christopher Plummer. He was predeceased by his parents, his beloved wife Greta (Jordan) and his sisters, Elinor Wilcox and Barbara Plummer.
Arrangements are under the care of Kennebecasis Funeral Home, 152 Pettingill Rd. Quispamsis, (506-849-2119). In keeping with Ken’s wishes there will be no visiting or funeral service. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of his long life which will be held at a later date, to be announced. Ken generously supported a wide variety of charities ranging from Doctors Without Borders to the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation to the Nature Trust of New Brunswick. For those who wish, donations to a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.
