CLARK, Samuel Damase

Loving and devoted husband, dad and grandpa and ever a friend to children. Born January 10, 1922, last post October 3, 2012 with his wife Barbara and sons Rob and Jamie by his side.  Sam was born on Oak Island, Northwest Angle, MN on Lake of the Woods and moved with his family to Kenora, ON at an early age. Sam spent part of his youth caddying at the Kenora Golf and Country Club where he developed a lifelong passion for the game. Flight was another one of Sam’s passions. He got his first job at age 16 with Canadian Airways in Kenora, working on Junkers aircraft.  Sam’s career as an Air Engineer was interrupted by World War II. He initially trained RCAF and RAF ground crews in Winnipeg before enlisting with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada.  While Sam enjoyed telling stories of his times on leave and would joke that the government paid for his tour of Holland and Northern Germany, he spoke very little of his combat experience.  At war’s end, Sam resumed his career with Canadian Pacific Airlines in Red Lake Ontario, before accepting a job with the Ontario Provincial Air Service. Sam helped introduce the DeHavilland Beaver and Otter to Northern Ontario. While stationed at Gogama, Ontario, a young school teacher, Barbara Mealey, caught his eye and he fell in love with her. They married the following year and after a stint in Fort Frances, Sam was posted to the air base in Kenora where he and Barb started their family. As Rob became older, Sam became actively involved with local hockey, coaching the Lakeside Bruins and maintaining the outdoor Lakeside rink. In summers, Sam spent many happy days with his family enjoying their boat and the beauty of the Lake of the Woods. By 1966, Sam was suffering from arthritis exacerbated by the extreme cold of Kenora winters. The family bid a tearful good-bye to family and many friends in Kenora and moved east. Summers were spent at the seasonal air base in Parry Sound where the family continued to enjoy boating and Sam introduced the family to the game of golf. Winters were spent in Sault Ste. Marie where Sam became permanently stationed when the air base in Parry Sound was closed in 1971. Sam retired from the Provincial Air Service in 1982 and spent much of his early retirement at the Sault Golf and Country Club. Later, Sam reveled in spoiling his grandchildren with much love and attention. Sam will be missed by many including his wife, his sons Rob (Lisa) and Jamie (Leslie), his grandchildren Michael, Laura, Kylie, Shannon and Emily. He has been welcomed in heaven by his parents Earl and Marie (Harrison), all of his brothers Earl Jr. (Tooke), Ernie and Richard (Jake), his sister Margaret (Babe), his daughter Beverly Jean and his granddaughter Meagan. A memorial service will be held at a later date to celebrate Sam’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Andrew’s Church in Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault and Area Hospital Foundation or the War Amps of Canada. (Arrangements entrusted to the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 705-759-2522). Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com.