Charles J. Clemens, age 77 of Marion, passed away at his home on Thursday May 26, 2016 with his family by his side.
Charles was the youngest of 11 children born to Jacob and Mary (Welsh) Clemens in Henry County on November 2, 1938. He graduated from high school in Henry County and Charles proudly served his country as a Staff Sergeant of the Air National Guard of Ohio and the Reserve of the United States Air Force.
On May 18, 1979, Charles was united in marriage to Marie A. Repka in Lyons, Ohio. Together they lovingly raised their family and shared 37 years of marriage.
Charles was a good provider for his family; with a strong work ethic and integrity he accomplished much. He was a farmer from a very early age. He developed a great skill and passion as a butcher and meat cutter. He then went on to work for the United States Department of Agriculture, where he severed as a Federal Food Inspector.
As they say, you can take the boy off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy. Charles always loved to work the land. He planted and farmed all types of garlic and enjoyed tending to his vegetable garden. He liked his tractors and other farm equipment, especially his Wheel Horse, which he used all of the time. His skills as a butcher were not just an occupation; he loved to make his own homemade brats, and when hunting, he could skin and carve a deer in no time flat. Charles was a fisherman as well as a hunter. He also had many boats throughout his life and liked to ski.
Charles’ mind was constantly turning, always looking at everything and wondering just how he could make something better. If there was a problem, you could be sure Charles would find and create the solution. He would spend countless hours in his garage building, modifying or fabricating whatever it might be to make that one thing better. There was no challenge too big for Charles to conquer. When it was time to go inside at night and relax, you could expect a western movie to be playing on TV or watching his favorite show, Walker Texas Ranger. Charles will always be remembered as a modest and humble man who loved life and especially his family.
Those who remain to honor his memory include his loving wife Marie A. Clemens; his devoted children: sons, Andrew Clemens and Adam Clemens, and daughter, Marci and her husband David Fredrick; his cherished granddaughter Kennedy Fredrick; his brother Robert Clemens and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Virginia Dickman, Isabelle Franz, Vincent Clemens, Geraldine Minsel, Ruth Karmol, Pauline Walker, Mary Ann Yaw, Bernice Westrick and Frances Miller.
Visitation will be held on Thursday June 2, 2016 at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 East Center St., Marion from 4:30PM to 7PM. Visitation will also be held Friday morning at the funeral home from 9AM to 10AM with a prayer service and eulogy from 10AM to 10:30AM. A procession to St. Mary Church will follow where the Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM with Fr. Thomas Buffer officiating. Military honors will be observed immediately after mass.
The Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Clemens family and condolences may be expressed to the family at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com
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