Clare F. Patrick

Clare Francis Patrick, 92, of North Branch, passed away on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at Heritage Hill Memory Care in Caro.

Clare was born June 3, 1927, to Orvice J. and Florence (Morrell) Patrick.  He graduated from North Branch High School in 1945, where he often jokingly said “I was third in my class…third in a class of three”.  He served in the United States Army 82nd Airborne Division from October 16, 1945 to May 6, 1947.  He earned a Sharpshooter Badge, a Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal.  He notably made a jump as a paratrooper and recently said “You have to be goofy to jump out of a perfectly good plane”.

After meeting on Friday, the 13th in February 1948, (introduced by their former best friend Bob Main) Clare was united in marriage to the love of his life Lula Ruth Diller on May 19, 1949.  She preceded him in death in August 2018, after 69 years of marriage.

Clare worked for General Motors for more than 30 years and was a metal finisher for much of that time.  When he saw the likelihood of retirement at a young age as a great opportunity, Clare bought a farm on M-90 where he and Lula raised beef cattle and grew corn, oats, hay, and soybeans.  There was nothing like the Patrick beef!  He said he hoped Heaven would be a big farm and he could work all day and never get tired.

Clare enjoyed life and loved children.  He thought the more grandkids and great grandkids, the merrier.  Clare was curious about life and kept active in current events and local politics well into his 80s.  He was an avid reader and World War II history buff.  Clare never met anyone who remained a stranger for long.  He would engage in conversation and usually had a funny story to share.  He and Lula would help anyone in need.

Clare is survived by his children, Melvin Patrick, Wesley (Paula) Patrick, Ruth (Robert) Clark, and Doris (Gary Green) Patrick; grandchildren, Lesley (Gary) Haxer, Kristen (Bob) Daniels, Sean Patrick, Heather Patrick, Hillary (Brett) Lane, Rachel (Brad) Dillon, and Joshua (Sylvia Romo) Clark; and great-grandchildren, Caylin and Meegan Daniels; McKenna and Sterling Lane; Nate, Ben, Lizzy, and Zach Dillon; and Emiliana and Lorenzo Clark-Romo.  He is also survived by daughter-in-law Brenda Patrick, sisters Elizabeth Hanel, Laura Ling, and Vera (Jay) Fife, brother Larry Gorsline, brother-in-law Art Churchill, sisters-in-law Louise Pasternak and Eleanor Diller, and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to Lula, he was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Isabelle (Frank) Cote, Iva (Ralph) Craner, Dorothy (Wilbert) Goss, Pearl (Norman) Maynard, and Lucille Churchill, brother-in-law Dave Ling, and grandson Scott Patrick.  A special thank you to Dana Thomason and Anne Wells for the care they provided Dad during this past year.

Visitation will be held at Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral home on Sunday, October 27, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  Visitation also will occur from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 28, 2019 before the service at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.  Pastor James Roberts will officiate with burial in West Deerfield Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Clare’s honor to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) or the 4-H.

You may share an online condolence at www.blackburnchapel.com

Arrangements by Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Home

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