ROSS W. CLARK OBITUARY

Ross W. Clark, 81, of Mansfield, Ohio passed away quietly at home, surrounded by his family, on March 12, 2023.

Ross was born in Rexburg, Idaho on June 10, 1941 to Rulon J. Clark and Helen Welker Clark. Ross was elder brother to five siblings: Janice Bingham, Rex W. Clark, Marlene Rogers, Kevin W. Clark, and Kyle W. Clark.

He had a happy small-town childhood. He graduated from Madison High School in 1959 and attended Ricks College in Rexburg.

He served a mission in the Northern Germany Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from November 1960 through May 1963.

In July 1963 Ross married VeAnn Scott. They were blessed with eight children. Ross and VeAnn were divorced in 1979.

On December 31, 1983, Ross married Andrea Jan Nelson. They were blessed with four children.

Ross was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities over the years. His favorite assignment was teacher to the adult Sunday School classes.

In 1989, Ross and Andrea joined Andrea’s sister, Brenda, and her husband, Shae Anderson in forming a small carousel restoration and carving business, The Carousel Man. In 1993, the families moved their business to Mansfield, Ohio and renamed it Carousel Magic! Ross was the head woodcarver and Chief Operating Officer of Carousel Magic! for twenty years. He carved many different animals in many different styles, including horses, giraffes, lions, otters, frogs, cheetahs, farm animals, and sea dragons. Ross retired from Carousel Magic! in 2010.

Ross was also a semi-professional photographer for over sixty years. He was especially talented in photographing people and capturing images of them at their best. Ross was dedicated to the proposition that having beautiful photographs changes the way a person thinks about herself or himself.

Ross served on the Board of Directors of Destination Mansfield for more than twenty years. He was elected Chairman of the Board several times, and is the immediate past Chairman. Ross also served on the Board of Directors of Miss Ohio Scholarship Program for several years. He was an enthusiastic supporter of local youth theater and music programs.

Ross is survived by his wife, Andrea; by ten children: Kevin Clark, Kenneth Clark, Leslie (Cory) Neilson; Douglas (DeAnna) Clark; Lynea (David) Bednarik; Dylan (Lisa) Clark; Malisa (Daniel) Bowen; Joseph (April) Clark; Matthew Clark; and, Elizabeth Clark. He is also survived by nineteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; he was blessed to see three generations of his posterity in his lifetime.

Ross is predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Kevin Clark and Kyle Clark; a daughter Marisa Lynn Clark; a son Hyrum Nelson Clark; and two brothers in law, Keith Rogers and Bill Bingham.

Preparation for burial will be by Leaf Cremation Services of Columbus.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1951 Middle Bellville Road, Mansfield, Ohio, 44904. The service will be followed by a luncheon at the church and burial of the remains at the Windsor Park Cemetery.

 

 

Blaine Smith, age 79, passed away at home September 14^{th, 2020,} surrounded by family, following many years of declining health. He was born in Rexburg Idaho, April 3 1941, to Donald and Janet Lyman Smith and was the middle child with an older brother and a younger sister. He attended elementary school at Cedar Point and Lyman. He graduated from Madison High in 1959.  He attended Rick’s College and received an associate’s degree. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Western States Mission. On his return he married the love of his life, Marsha Walker, in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 7^th, 1963.

Five children were blessed to them; Derek, Scott, Brandon, Stephanie, and Melanie. He was an outstanding farmer, who appreciated taking care of the land and always making it better. He raised potatoes and grain on the Rexburg bench, he worked hard and reaped the blessings from his labors. Blaine was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had many callings, he was a committed and kind home teacher, he served in several bishoprics, but his greatest joy was working with the young men in Scouts. He helped many young men, his sons, and grandsons receive their Eagle Scouts, and was himself awarded the Silver Beaver.

He served on the RC&D, Chamber of Commerce, Soil Conservation, District Boy Scout Leader, and Valley Wide Co-op boards, totaling over 35 years of volunteer effort. He was part owner of Benchmark Potato Company in Thornton and was a lifelong resident of Lyman. Blaine is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marsha, sons Derek (Michele), Scott (Karyn), Brandon (Kristen), Stephanie Shaffer (Colby) and Melanie who resides with Darrin & Johnnie McDonald, brother Garry, and Sister Carla Clark, 14 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson Griffyn Smith his parents and many relatives on both sides of his family.

Many thanks and appreciation to the wonderful staff of Aspen Hospice that have helped with Blaine’s transition and care over the last several months.

Private family graveside service will be at the Sutton Cemetery in Archer, Idaho. 

Blaine Dell Klingler, 78, passed away on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at his home in Rexburg,  He was born July 6, 1939, in Newdale, Idaho to Godfrey C. Klingler and Eulalia Ovard.

Blaine was a member of the LDS Church and held various callings during his life.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting and activities with his family.  He graduated from Madison High Schol in 1959 and was in the National Guard before serving an LDS Mission to the Eastern Central States of Tennesee, West Virginia, and Kentucky.  It was while serving in his last mission area in Kentucky that he met a school teacher, Helen Shepherd.  After Blaine returned home, he invited Helen to spend her Christmas school break in Idaho.  They decided to get married on Christmas Day 1962.  Blaine and Helen were later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple June 4, 1964.  Blaine farmed in the Newdale area until the late 1980's at which time he started working at Ray's Chrvron in the lube bay until his retirement in 2006.

He was a supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and helped all of his sons achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.  He had a special friendship and love for his daughter in her care of him and Helen in which she took him to all of his medical appointments the last four years.

Blaine is survived by his wife, Helen; sons, David (Jackie), Gary (Alene), Delwin (Wendy); daughter, Eileen; 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, all of Rexburg; and brother, Larry (Fay) Klingler of Draper, Utah.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters: Dorothy Spaulding, Velma Winn Carter; and three brothers: Marion, Richard, and Clayne Klingler.

A viewing will be held Sunday, June 17, 2018 at the Rexburg 13th Ward Chapel located at 210 South 12th West in Rexburg from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 18, 2018, at Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery, 4900 South Yellowstone Highway, in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

 

JoAnn Erickson Genta, 79 passed away December 16, 2020 with her husband of 59 years by her side.JoAnn Erickson Genta was born June 25, 1941 in Rexburg, Idaho to Henry and DeVeda (Nelson) Erickson. She was the third child of five, and says that the nurse named her. She grew up in Archer, Idaho attending the old Archer School through 8th grade. Then graduated from Madison High School in 1959. There she met the love of her life as a high school sophomore. She graduated with an Associate’s Degree from Ricks College in 1960. She and Norman “Errol” Genta were married and sealed for time and all eternity August 18, 1961 in Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They lived in Provo, Utah, Afton and Casper, Wyoming then back to Rexburg, Idaho. Then in 1972, they moved to Caldwell, Idaho where she worked at the College of Idaho for the athletic department and then Taylor Music. In May of 1984, Errol and JoAnn opened Garbonzo’s Pizza of Middleton, where they have both spent countless hours working for 36 years to make it successful and a staple of Middleton, Idaho. Everyone knows Garbonzo’s. Even after their son Tom took over running it, JoAnn would continue to stop in regularly to help out. She played the piano beautifully and instilled a love of music in all her children. She spent many years in various callings and leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She loved to sew and crochet and spent many hours doing humanitarian work. Her greatest tradition was making Christmas ties. Her legacy is that she loved everyone and many called her a beloved friend. She told everyone that she loved them. She loved the Savior and was an example of love and service. JoAnn is survived by her beloved husband Norman “Errol” Genta, 80, sisters Renee Smith and LaTawn Wolfley, and brother Blaine Erickson. She leaves behind daughter JoEllen G. Taylor (Jim) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, sons Thomas E. Genta (Stacey) of Middleton, Idaho, Scott Erickson Genta (Nancy) of Chandler, Arizona, Gregory Norman Genta (Elizabeth) of West Hills, California, and daughter Wendy A. Ashilman (Shane) of Caldwell, Idaho. She is the best grandmother ever to twelve grandchildren with one on the way, and three great grandchildren. JoAnn had a cute dimple in her chin and when each new grandchild joined the family she checked their chin for a dimple. She was a beloved Aunt to many nieces and Nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother DeVon. 

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