Lavern Raymond Clark

Lavern, 94, of Sun City West, AZ went to be with his Lord on April 21, 2019. Bud was born November 16, 1924 in Davenport, IA to Raymond & Elsie Clark.Bud graduated from Davenport Central High School in 1943.Bud joined the US Army and was in the 78th Infantry Division from August 1944-July 1946 where he served in the European Theater in Germany during World War II. Bud then joined the US Air Force and was a Special Agent with Office of Special Investigation in Berlin, Germany from January 1951-1955 during the Korean War.Following his service Bud attended Iowa State University for one year. Following that year, he enrolled at the University of Iowa and received his bachelor's degree in 1957. Bud was a Member of the Society of Mechanical Engineers and worked for John Deere for 23 years in the Manufacturing Engineering Department.Bud met Normajean Cochran at the University of Iowa. They were married August 31, 1957 following Normajean's graduation from the College of Nursing.He had a love for flying and purchased a Luscume 150 airplane. This became the catalyst for the origin of the La Porte City, IA airport to be developed on the farmland of our dear friends, Lee and Bonnie Nichols.Upon retirement Bud and Normajean spent 13 years in Bibleville, TX and then moved to Sun City West, AZ where they have lived for the past 10 years. One of Bud's favorite pastimes' was to prune grapefruit, lemon and orange trees. Many neighbors and friends were privileged to have Bud take care of their fruit trees.At age 87, he hiked up Camelback Mountain with his son-in-law, Joel, granddaughter, Taylor, and grandsons, Alex and Bailey. They met another woman at the top who was 84 years old. She thought she was the oldest to climb the mountain until talking with Bud!At age 94, Bud was very active member of the Sun City West Tennis Club and played three or more times a week with these tennis buddies. He and his partner won the Swing Into Spring 2014 Senior Tournament-DOUBLES MEN 85+ CHAMPION title! Bud was a member of Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Waterloo, IA and attended Christ Community Church in Sun City, AZ, where he served on the worship committee, sang in the choir and served faithfully.He loved his family, church and serving God. He was always willing to help a stranger or anyone in need. One of Bud's greatest joys in life was to read his Bible, attend Bible Study and church and share God's Word with those who did not know his Lord and Savior. Bud found great joy in planting the seeds of God's Word to those who were friends, neighbors, and many others on life's pathway.Bud is survived by Normajean, his wife of 61 years, Greg & Susan (daughter) Reynolds of Freeport, FL, and Joel & Ann (daughter) Berthusen, Peoria, AZ, 4 grandchildren: Abby Hawn Class, Baily Hawn, Alex Berthusen, & Taylor Berthusen and 1 great-granddaughter Amelia Class, brother-in law, Walter R. Cochran of Waterloo, IA, nieces and nephews. Bud is preceded in death by his mother Elsie Clark Rasler, father Raymond Clark, sister, Gertrude Ehler, brother-in-law, Hugo Ehler and sister-in-law, Marjorie Cochran.A private family committal service will be held on May 24, 2019 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ. His memorial service will be conducted sometime in the fall at Christ Community Church in Paradise RV Park in Sun City, AZ. Bud will be missed by his devoted loving family, his many church friends and lifelong friends, tennis buddies and wonderful neighbors.