John Clark IV, 84 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, December 29, 2011 in Woodcrest Nursing Center where he had be a resident since January 2011. He was born on Monday, April 18, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the son of the late John Clark III and the late Laura M. (Bacon) Clark. He married Carolyn J. Lambert on August 27, 1955 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and she passed away on December 30, 2003. John served his country in Germany and Hawaii during World War II in the United States Marine Corp. He was a graduate of Northside High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Ball State Teachers College in Muncie, Indiana; received his Master's Degree from St. Francis College in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and was a graduate of Belsaw Institute for custom picture framing. John was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Decatur where he had served as a trustee, usher, and held several other offices of the church. He was a former member of the American Legion Post #43 in Decatur; a former member of the Decatur Lion's Club, where he was past president and secretary. He was a life member of the National NEA; a member of the retired teacher association ISTA; & a former member and past president of NATA. He had previously served as Decatur City Councilman & served on the founding Board of Directors for the Decatur Boys & Girls Club. John enjoyed U.S. stamp collecting and doing cross stitching. John was a teacher at North Adams Community Schools for thirty-one years retiring in 1988. He had previously taught in Huntertown in Allen County, Indiana. He was also self-employed with Clark Custom Frames from 1977 to 2005. Surviving are his son, John (Kay) Clark V of Granger, Indiana; son, Vernon C. Clark of Decatur, Indiana; son, Michael A. (Heidi) Clark of Schertz, Texas; son, Philip E. (Stacy) Clark of Decatur, Indiana; brother, Joseph A.Clark of Fort Wayne, Indiana; brother, James W. (Jane) Clark of Lakeland, Michigan. He is also survived by six grandchildren; Jessica Clark, Tyler Clark, Emily clark, Michael Clark II, John Bussing & Carrigan Clark. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2012 in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Martha Lyon officiating. Interment will follow in the Decatur Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m., Monday, January 2 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Preferred memorials are to Decatur Boys & Girls Club or the First United Methodist Church Building Fund.
