Lyle E. Clemsen

Lyle Eugene Clemsen, 88, of Clarion passed away and went to heaven on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge.

Funeral services for Lyle Clemsen will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 9, 2014, at the Clarion Church of Christ, 420 North Main Street, in Clarion with Pastor Mark Young officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion. 

The family will greet friends one hour prior to the services at the church.

Lyle Euguene Clemsen was born October 2, 1925 in Audubon County on a farm near Exira, Iowa to Arthur and Meta Clemsen.  He graduated from Exira High School and went to work at Graham’s Department Store in Atlantic in the shoe department which began a long career in retail shoes.

On October 17, 1948, Lyle married Jane Porch at the Baptist Church in Atlantic, Iowa.  To this union, three children were born: Kristin, Brent and Lance.

Lyle was a partner at Westervelt’s Shoes in Webster City and at Lyle’s Shoes in Clarion, and in 1963, became the sole owner of Lyle’s Shoes in Clarion until his retirement in 1989.

Lyle was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Webster City and later became an active member of the Clarion Church of Christ, where he served as an Elder and Deacon.

Lyle loved to golf.  Lyle also loved his woodworking and shared his talents with many to create and build furniture.  Most of the furniture in Lyle and Jane’s home was built by Lyle.  He also loved driving the school bus for many years and received much from the kids on his bus route.  Lyle was a past president of the Clarion Lions Club and also the Chamber of Commerce.

His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a great source of enjoyment for Lyle and he loved taking the families on fishing trips and vacations.

Preceding Lyle in death were his parents, twin sister Lavonne, brothers Virgil and Glen and great-granddaughter Eve Elizabeth Hellenga.

Survivors include his wife, Jane of Fort Dodge, daughter Kristin (Chip) Doolittle of Twin Lakes, son Brent (Jan) Clemsen of Maple Valley, Washington and son Lance Clemsen of Iowa City.  Grandchildren include Zach (Jenny) Mitchell of Medina, Minnesota, Elizabeth (Nathan) Hellenga of Clive, Iowa, Josie (Tim) Jones of Quimby, Iowa, Jordan Clemsen and Maren Clemsen of Solon, Iowa, Katie (Buddy) Wood of Spokane, Washington and Lean Clemsen of Maple Valley, Washington.  He has 6 great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Peggy Robinson of Atlantic, Patty Stockham of Anita, and Rosa Clemsen of Exira, and brothers-in-law Norman Porch of Bremerton, Washington, and Howard Anderson of Atlantic.