Gene Clark

Gene Marnell Clark, 85, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2015, in the care of Hospice of Western Kentucky

An early pioneer in the mission of healthy eating and living, Gene is well known in the area for his effusively positive personality. He greeted friends or strangers with a sincere smile and touched many lives with his relentless pursuit of wellness and knowledge.

Gene graduated from St. Joseph High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and saw combat duty during the Korean War. He loved baseball and coached many youth teams to championships. He retired from Green River Steel after 33 years before he and Nancy opened Gene's Health Foods. He later became a certified nutritionist.

Gene embraced this world. He ran marathons, rode motorcycles, experienced rain forests, played golf and traveled the world. He gave unconditional love to everyone entering his life. He made a difference and we can still hear him say, ''I have had a wonderful life.''

Gene was born June 17, 1930, to the late Edward and Till Clark. The second of 11 children, he was also preceded in death by Edward, Bobby, Martha (Hayden) and Jim.

He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy (Brown); sons, Steve Clark (RonSonlyn) and Chris Clark (Wende); daughters, Wynter Keller, Leslie Phelps (Dennis) and Kellie Von Schipmann; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; siblings Mary Hester (Bob), Mike Clark (Rose), Nancy Pierce (Don), David Clark (Iona), Benny Clark (Paula) and Linda Tate (Randy); and sisters-in-law Barbara Marcinkowski and Liz Brown and brother-in-law Bill Hayden. He will be dearly missed by all.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Blessed Mother Catholic Church. Visitation will be form 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday and after 8:30 a.m. on Thursday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Entombment will be in Resurrection Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Hospice of Western Kentucky or Dreamriders.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.glennfuneralhome.com