MONMOUTH – A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 am, Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Monmouth, for Deacon William (Will) Clark, who served the Diocese of Peoria as a deacon for more than 45 years.

Deacon Will, 89, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at his home in Monmouth.

He was born April 20, 1935, in Hersman, Illinois, son of Lyle and Helen (Lenz) Clark. He was raised and educated in Mount Sterling and later Galesburg, graduating from Galesburg High School in 1953. He later attended Carl Sandburg College.

SERVED FAMILY, CHURCH AND COUNTRY

He served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959, and worked as an Outlying Troubleman Lineman for the Illinois Power Company for over 37 years before his retirement in 1999.

On October 29, 1955, he married Alice E. Cokel in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Monmouth.

After three years of preparation, he was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Peoria’s second diaconate class in 1979. Deacon Will poured himself out in service to the people of God through his vocation.

He served as concelebrant and minister of the Gospel, and preached during masses at Immaculate Conception, St. Patrick in Raritan, St. Teresa in Alexis and St. Andrew in Oquawka. He also assisted with Cursillo and Teens Encounter Christ, taught RCIA, and visited the sick. He baptized over 90 children and performed over 15 weddings.

COUNTLESS MINISTRY INVOLVEMENTS

A member of the Knights of Columbus, Special Olympics, Relay for Life, he was very active with Rock Steady at the Monmouth YMCA along with many other organizations and church functions.

Suffice to say, when Deacon Will arrives at the pearly gates, it’s going to take St. Peter awhile to review all of his parish ministry involvements, many undertaken in partnership with Alice.

Together, they helped prepare new parents for the baptism of their children, raised five children of their own, and mourned the loss of three infant sons.

Survivors include his wife; daughters, Antoniette (John) Eckley of Bloomington; Stephanie Clark of Bartonville; Victoria (Andy) Jackson,and Josephine Clark of Monmouth; his son, Christopher Clark of Lutz, FL; 11 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren; his sister, Ruth A. Olson of Galesburg; his brothers, Robert Clark of Cadillac, MI and Charles E. Clark of Abingdon. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sons, John Edward Clark, Anthony William Clark and Randall Paul Clark; brothers, Richard Clark and Gerald Clark; sisters, Barbara Sloan and Marjorie Hawk; his in-laws Victor and Irene Cokel.

FATHER TIMOTHY HEPNER TRIBUTE

As Father Timothy Hepner said of Deacon Will in an online tribute, “I will mostly just remember Deacon Will’s wry smile – somehow innocent, wise, and mischievous all at the same time. Will was my friend and I’m going to really miss him.”

A rosary service will be held at 4:00 pm, Friday, March 28, 2025, followed by visitation until 7:00 p.m. at McGuire & Davies Funeral Home and Crematory, Monmouth. The funeral Mass is at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Immaculate Conception.

Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Monmouth. Memorials may be given to Immaculate Conception School or the Rock Steady Program at the Monmouth YMCA and sent to the funeral home.

For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit, www.mcguireanddaviesfuneralhome.com.