Laura Clark

Laura Joyce Clark, age 69 years of Niles, Michigan, wife, mother, grandmother, gunsmith, cook, and traveler died peacefully at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at her home following an extended illness.  Her family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by the hospice staff.

She was born on December 7, 1951 in Niles to Martin Edward and Joyce Laura (Seeberger) Klute and was graduated from Niles High School.  She continued her education at Western Michigan University.  She was employed for many years as a gunsmith at her family’s business, The Firing Pin in Niles and was also a retail clerk at the Kohl’s department store in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Laura was a long-time member of the former Fulkerson Park Baptist Church in Niles (now Redeemer Church) and had attended the Granger (Indiana) Community Church.  As a young mother she volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader.  She enjoyed traveling, including a trip to Europe and visiting most of the United States including Alaska.

She was a great home cook, with a special recipe for green bean casserole and another recipe for hand-cranked cranberry sauce, each containing at least one secret ingredient.  She was also well-known for a wide variety of pies.  More recently she enjoyed various collectables, and has always enjoyed Christmas, keeping decorations up year-‘round for her pleasure (not from procrastination).

Most of all, she loved people.  When she recognized a need, she would provide, even when no one else knew of the need, and she was completely accepting of everyone she met.

On April 25, 1970 at Fulkerson Park Church she married Daniel Boone “Boonie” Clark with whom she celebrated a few months ago the remarkable Fiftieth Anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, Daniel and their children, Daniel James (& Angela) Clark of Elkhart, Indiana, Jason (& Lori) Clark of Niles, Laura Jeanette (& Eric) Frye of Niles, Janelle (& Michael) Kornecki of Abingdon, Maryland, and Joseph (& Shawna) Clark of Albion, Michigan; grandchildren Matthew Clark, Christopher Clark, Tiffanie (& Kurt) Jones, Brandon Frye, Shawn Frye, Laura Frye – fifth generation Laura, Elaina Kornecki, Freya Kornecki, and Mabel Clark; great-granddaughter Tiffany-Lily Jones; and Laura Joyce’s brother, Michael (& Linda) Klute of Niles, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by a brother, Daniel Kluth.

The funeral service for Laura Clark will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 23, 2021 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles with Pastor Bob Jackson of the First Church of God in Niles officiating.  Committal services will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  The ceremonies will be livestreamed on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices/ .

The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.  Contributions in memory of Laura may be made to Rock Steady Boxing of Michiana, 50698 State Road 933, South Bend, Indiana, 46637, http://michiana.rsbaffiliate.com/ which provides therapy for those with Parkinson’s disease.   Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Laura’s enjoyment in entertaining everyone, including visitors at the dining room table who were previously strangers, was evidence of her generosity and willing to accept everyone.  Her life was a testimony to the command to Love People and Love God.