Clark, Jeffrey John

Jeffrey John Clark, 34, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hiawatha. The Rev. Daniel Krueger will officiate. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Surviving are his parents, John and Karen Clark of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Amie Clark (John Miller) of Pine Hill, N.J.; his brother, Kyle (Christine) Clark of Cedar Rapids; his nephew and godson, Logan Clark; his paternal grandmother, Dorothy Clark of Fort Dodge; his maternal grandparents, Edmund and Clara Lichtsinn of Webster City; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Charles M. Clark in December 2009.

Jeff was born Oct. 5, 1977 in Omaha, Neb., the beloved son of John C. and Karen E. (Lichtsinn) Clark. He attended Fort Dodge Community Schools through seventh grade until his family moved to Cedar Rapids. Jeff then attended Roosevelt Middle School and in 1996 graduated from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School. While at Kennedy, Jeff was a four year participant in wrestling for which he was a state qualifier in 1996, as well as a four year participant and two year letterwinner in football. In 2000, he graduated from Wartburg College. He wrestled for Wartburg all four years. He also worked four summers during his college years for the CRANDIC and Iowa Northern Railroads.

He began teaching math for the Marion Independent School District at Vernon Middle School in 2003. He was a varsity assistant wrestling coach at Kennedy High School from 2001 to the present. Jeff also coached football and track at Vernon Middle School and wrestling at Harding Middle School for several years.

Jeff enjoyed fishing, football pools, poker tournaments and his mother's cooking. He was a die-hard fan of the Iowa State Cyclones, New York Yankees and the Green Bay Packers. His greatest enjoyment was the time he spent with his best friend and younger brother, Kyle.

The impact he made on his students, athletes, family and friends was great and he will be dearly missed by many.

Memorial donations may be directed to the family for the future establishment of scholarships in Jeff's name to be given to local student athletes.

Please leave a message, tribute or memory to the Clark family on the webpage, under Obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Nov. 29, 2011.