Robert Gerald Clarg
Cold War Submarine Veteran, Robert Gerald Clark, son of Leslie Orlando and Corda Lillian (Hart) Clark, was born January 4, 1935, in Green Bay Township in Clarke County, IA and died Monday, September 19, 2022, at Clearview Home in Mt Ayr, IA at 87. Gerald attended school in Osceola and at the age of 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, which began a 23-year career that took him around the world. He served on submarines including the USS Tullibee and the Tiru during his many deployments. Gerald was a submariner, underwater demolitions expert, Navy parachutist, company commander, recruiter, and career counselor to mention a few. He retired at the rank of Senior Chief Torpedoman. Gerald married Delores Elizabeth Alford on July 31, 1956, in Key West, FL and they had 3 children: Donna, Debbie, and Robert. Gerald returned with his family to Osceola in 1970 and he purchased the Lyric Theater, he also owned the Uptown Hotel and Café with his wife. Gerald was elected to the Osceola City Council and 2 terms as Osceola. He was a charter member of the Osceola Eagles Lodge Aerie #3495, member of the Davis Pence Post #69 of the American Legion, and member of the V.F.W. He loved flying and building airplanes; he was active with the Osceola Airport and getting the new airport built and was also an inspector for Experimental Aircraft Association. Gerald's wife Dee preceded him in death in August of 1989. Gerald was united in marriage to Lynnette Cox-Atkinson on July 17, 2010, in Osceola. Together they were active with the Osceola Eagles and enjoyed family activities. Those relatives who preceded Gerald in death were his first wife Dee Clark, daughter Debbie Clark, parents Les and Corda Clark, grandsons Jacob and Joseph Adair, son-in-law David Adair, sister Barb Philpot (husbands Kenny Symonds and Bill Philpot), sister and brother-in-law Virginia and Clarence Scholl, niece Joyce Marie "Sue" Taylor, and step-son Tory Cox. Gerald leaves to cherish his memory: wife Lynette Clark, daughter Donna Lynn Adair, son Robert Joseph (Nila) Clark, step-daughter Annette (Johnny) Miler all of Osceola, IA and step-daughter, Suzanne (Chuck) Craig of MS, and three generations of grandchildren.
Sailor rest your oars.