Kenneth “Captain Casey” Clark, 82, of Berrien Springs, passed away at home on Sunday, September 6, 2020, surrounded by his loving family.
Casey was born on January 2, 1938, to Charles and Thelma (Worthington) Clark in St. Joseph, MI. He graduated from Berrien Springs High School in 1956. He lived a full life, beginning with a robust athletic career. Casey was an All-State athlete in football, basketball, and track. He held the high school conference basketball record for scoring 57 points in a single game, a state high jump record and a K-College high jump record. Another impressive accolade was being named “Outstanding Senior Athlete” of Berrien County. Not only was Casey an outstanding athlete, he also maintained high academics, was an Eagle Scout, and received 19 ribbons in one year at the Berrien County Youth Fair.
Upon graduating from high school, Casey earned his bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College, where he was a member of the basketball and track teams. Casey then returned to the classroom for nearly 40 years, spending the majority of his career at Coloma High School where he taught Biology, Advanced Biology, and Medical Technology. Additionally, he coached varsity basketball and track for many years.
Athletics and academics were not Casey’s only areas of expertise. He was also a great sportsman and was talented at anything he put his mind to including fishing, hunting, taxidermy, bowling, and poker. In bowling, Casey achieved a 227 average and an 802 series. To many, Casey was known as Captain Casey, as he was an avid fisherman who chartered boats on the Great Lakes for 25 years, fished competitively in the Master Walleye Circuit for ten years, and also held patents for several of his fishing inventions. Over the years, countless people had their “biggest catch” with Captain Casey.
Though Casey was accomplished in many areas, he most valued the relationships he had with others. None was more important than his marriage to his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Alice Myers, on April 16, 1960 at the United Methodist Church in Berrien Springs. Together, they built a wonderful family and life. Casey was a wise and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, who greatly valued time spent with those he held dear.
Casey is survived by his wife of sixty years, Alice Clark; children, Catrina (Jim) Weaver of Comstock Park, MI; Kenneth Clark of Berrien Springs, MI; Michael (Shun) Clark of Watervliet, MI; Rodney (Melissa) Clark of Buchanan, MI; and Calisa (Perry) Norman of Vicksburg, MI; 21 grandchildren plus their 9 spouses, 17 great-grandchildren; brother, John “Jay” (Ginger) Clark; sister, Kathie Kiker; sister-in-law, Jane Clark; numerous nieces and nephews; lifelong hunting and fishing partners and friends, Larry Yonker, Walter Wolf, Dick Tropp, Mike Jones, Todd Bailey, Bill Smith, Mark Hettig, Ted Archer and Neil McMillen; and countless other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Thelma Clark and brother, Charles Clark.
A celebration of life service will be held at a later date due to current events. Memorial contributions can be directed to: ‘Captain Casey and Alice Clark’ GoFundMe campaign @ https://gf.me/u/ywb9sh, or the Berrien Springs United Methodist Church, 310 W. Mars Street, Berrien Springs, MI 49103
Arrangements have been entrusted to Heritage Chapel, Berrien Springs. Those wishing to share a condolence or memory for the family may do so at www.heritage-chapel.com.
Posted On: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 2:44 PM
