Katherine “Karen” Kiinani Clark, 77, of Montgomery City, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, at Boone Hospital in Columbia.
Karen was born on Oct. 11, 1944, the daughter of Joseph Keshner and Keiki Ruff Keshner. She graduated high school and went on to complete four years of college to begin her career as a teacher.
On July 8, 1967, she married Harold Dean Clark at the Newman Center in Columbia, they were married for 51 wonderful years before Harold passed away on Dec. 21, 2018. Karen was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Montgomery City, the Community Club, BHPO, Women’s Ag Awareness, the Bellflower Fireflies and the Youth Club. She loved to talk on the phone and enjoyed visiting with anyone, family or friend. She will be dearly missed.
Karen said “My greatest joy is that many of my former students have become my friends. We go places together – eat out and I am invited to their homes.”
Mrs. Clark is survived by her two sons, Brian Keo Clark of rural Montgomery City and Matthew Clarence Clark of Fulton; two grandchildren, Alex Marie Clark and Stephanie Ann Crocker and her husband, Jeremy; two great-grandchildren, Peyton and Millie Crocker, of Montgomery City; and her sister, Kalani Sexton and husband, Paul Sexton, Jr., of New Florence. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Dean Clark; daughter, Amanda Sue Clark; her parents, Joseph Keshner and Keiki Ruff; and her brother, Keo Keshner.
A funeral mass was held on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Montgomery City. Father Gerald Kaimann officiated and interment followed at the Bellflower Cemetery in Bellflower.
Casket Bearers were Keith Schmidt, Kevin Schmidt, Donnie Gilbert, Steve Davis, Donald Ray Davis and Chad Davis.
Honorary Casket Bearers were Bob Tippett, Delia and Jerry Schlindler, Bill and Ellen Beebe, and Colleen and Bill Ruff.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Amanda Sue Clark Fund, for the University of Missouri neonatal newborn care unit, c/o Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO 63361.
