Mikkelsen, Clark L.

Clark L. Mikkelsen, 67, of Decorah, passed away Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Per his wishes he was cremated. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah, with a luncheon and fellowship to follow. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Pastor Joan Mau will be officiating. Iowa Cremation is assisting the family.

Clark Lee Mikkelsen was born Dec. 28, 1942, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Helga (Jessen) and Earl Mikkelsen. His education began in a country school in rural Cedar Falls and continued at Dike Community School, where he graduated in 1961. He attended one year at Grandview College in Des Moines, one year at a med tech school in Minneapolis and later graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. He was married to Judy Bonker on Nov. 28, 1964, at the Dike Methodist Church. They returned to the Cedar Falls area following his college graduation to work as a claims adjuster for State Farm Insurance, then moved to Decorah to take over the State Farm Agency. He was with State Farm for 30 years.

Clark is survived by his wife of Decorah; a daughter, Lisa (Kevin) Dotseth of Johnston; a son, David (Michele) Mikkelsen of Anamosa; grandchildren, Hayley and Drew Dotseth and Alaina and Cara Mikkelsen; a sister, Leann (Mike) Walker of Waverly, sister-in-law, Dixie (Harold) Hodson of Ankeny; aunts, an uncle, cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Dennis.

Clark was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah and an associate member of Fredsville Lutheran in rural Cedar Falls, where he had been baptized and confirmed. He was a long time member of the Decorah Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Cedar Rapids Consistory, and El Kahir Shrine. Clark had been a member of the Decorah Jaycees, Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge, Oneota Golf and Country Club, and was a Master Gardener.

Among his interests were history and geography, reading, traveling, automobiles (and driving them), following his favorite sports teams (an avid Twins fan), and gardening.

He dearly loved his family, friends, and good neighbors; all will remember him for his faith, honesty, diligence, knowledge, and humorous puns and quips. Blessed be his memory.

Online condolences may be left for the family at