James Edward Clark

James was born in Milwaukee in 1938, the son of Edward S. Clark and Ida M. (Tresidder) Clark, RN. Jim spent his early youth in Baraga and Berkley, following his father’s work as a tool and die supervisor. While in Berkley, Jim became a member of the Masonic Demoley of Royal Oak. When his father passed in 1952, the family returned to Baraga.

Jim attended Baraga Township schools where he participated on the basketball and debating teams and served as class president of his senior class. His spare time was spent working at the local filling station, building and repairing anything electrical or mechanical, “sitting with the guys at the Roost” or touring the town on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Graduating from Baraga High School in 1956, he continued his education at Michigan Technological University with a double major of mechanical & electrical engineering, while working part time at Pettibone Manufacturing, and continued to serve as a member of Baraga unit of the Michigan National Guard.

For several years his favorite possession became his white 1956 Ford Indy Pace Car. Eventually Jim completed his formal education graduating from MTU with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering.

After graduation, Jim married the love of his life, Miss Mary Ann Dault of L’Anse in November 1963, Jim had started what would turn out to be a life-long career with Motorola Inc. of Chicago, and for several years he and Mary “followed the jobs” through out the United States, living in their Air stream trailer where ever the work took them. After the birth of their daughter, Mary Lynn, they settled in the Chicago area – first in River Grove, and later in Itasca.

Jim had a very distinguished career at Motorola, developing corporate communication systems, a career which lasted over 50 years. Upon retirement, Jim and Mary bought another Air Stream trailer and returned to the road. Based out of Itasca, they summer traveled in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan while wintering first in Florida and later in Texas. They eventually relocated to Weslaco, Texas. It became a family joke that Jim had done his homework and found the one place in Texas that seemed to avoid being plagued by hurricanes, tornadoes, torrential rains, killer winds, fire storms or any other of the various disagreeable weather patterns that bothered Texas as a whole. Jim would always respond with “oh, we are doing fine. Just a few clouds and wind,” when family asked how they were dealing with the latest weather problem.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Mary Ann; his daughter Mary Lynn Clark of Texas; his sister, Ida (Gerald) Allan of Pelkie; sister-in-law, Darlene Bianco Milakovich of L’Anse; nephew, Jim Bianco of L’Anse; nieces, Shelle (John) Sandell of Houghton, Mary Bianco of Menominee, Wisconsin, and Sandy (Gary) Kauppinen of Baraga; and numerous cousins, grand nieces and nephews.

Private services will be held and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Condolences and/or rememberances may be left at the website for the McCaleb Funeral Home, Weslaco, Texas.