John W. "Jack" Clark

John W. “Jack” Clark, Jr., 76, of Murrysville, PA died peacefully, Wednesday, November 16, 2016, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John W. “J.W.” Clark, Sr. and Marian L. (Newhouse) Clark, of Blairsville, Pennsylvania. He leaves his cherished wife of 55 years, whom he married April 25, 1961, Darlene (Kellander) Clark, of Murrysville.

Jack was born in Blairsville on July 15, 1940 and raised in Blairsville.  He graduated from Blairsville High School in 1958 and attended Juniata College and the University of Pittsburgh. He spent much of his life in Blairsville, with his best known professional accomplishment being the building of the family business, Clark Metal Products. Jack held various positions including tool designer, diemaker, engineering manager, sales manager and vice president from 1971-1987.  He assumed the position of president and CEO upon his father’s retirement in 1987.  He served as president until his retirement in April of 2001.  He knew every aspect of the company’s operation and with equal measures of business savvy and professional ethics, he led Clark Metal in its growth and development. During his tenure as president the company grew in sales and moved to a new facility expanding the building to three times the original size.  Jack was forward-thinking and guided the company in the use of new technologies and ever-improving business practices. Yet he considered his most important responsibility to be providing stable careers for his employees. Clark Metal Products, under Jack’s leadership, was a small business at its best.  He still retained partial ownership of the company and served on the family Board of Directors.

Jack was a leader in many civic and professional organizations, as he believed in the betterment of his community, no matter whether that was Western Pennsylvania, Forest Lakes in Virginia, or Redstone-Highlands. He served on the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, president of the Indiana County Development Corporation (Economic Development group for Indiana County PA), Catalyst  Connection Board of Directors (manufacturing consulting group of the Pittsburgh Technology Council), 12th Regional Equipment Center Board of Directors, advisory board of the Advance Manufacturing Network-PTC, chairman of the Blairsville Zoning Hearing Board, Team Pennsylvania Ambassador,  Laurel Valley Extension of the PTC advisory board, former chairman of the Cemetery Citizens Committee, served as an advisor for the Blairsville Intown Group, served as a member of the Architectural Review Board-Forest Lakes, volunteer consultant for manufacturing to the Central Virginia SBDC and co-chairman of the Council of Redstone Highlands, Murrysville.

Jack was a member of Hopewell United Methodist Church where he served on the Hopewell Visionary Committee and was a pianist.

As a husband, father, and grandfather, Jack set the highest possible standard. He was devoted to his wife Darlene in their decades together. He adored his children and grandchildren, for whom his sacrifices knew no limits. Jack and Darlene made homes in Blairsville; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Murrysville, as family needs demanded.

Jack had many talents, although he was ever-humble about all of them. He was a skilled woodworker and enterprising do-it-yourself’er. Most especially, Jack made music. Jazz, 50’s rock and roll, and gospel were his genres, trumpet and piano his instruments. Jack loved good (some might say, corny) jokes, which drew delighted groans from those who knew and loved him.

Jack leaves behind a loving family who will never, ever forget the impact he had on their lives; his loving wife, Darlene K. (Kellander) Clark; his children and their spouses – Jacki (Kathy LeBlanc), Terri Perkins (Ken Miller), and Rob (Tracie); his beloved grandchildren – Tanner and Ben Perkins, Julianna LeBlanc, and Maya and Macy Clark; his brother and sister-in-law Dave and Mary Ann Clark; his brother-in-law Denny Kellander and wife, Linda; his sister-in-law Lavina Johns; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Jack’s professional accomplishments, his generous humility, his wise counsel, and personal connections have undoubtedly left the world a better place; and his friends and family will miss him immensely.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Friday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. Saturday at the Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc., 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville, PA.  A funeral service will be held at 2:30 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home with Rev. Brett M. Dinger officiating.

Interment will be in Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville, PA.

If desired, memorial donations may be made in Jack’s name to Hopewell United Methodist Church or to the American Cancer Society.