HOISINGTON — Joseph Alanson “Joe” Clarke, 86, died Feb. 8, at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born Aug. 23, 1928, in Norton, he was the son of Laurence Benjamin and Pearl Irene (Pierce) Clarke. On July 22, 1950, he married Carol Humphrey in Jetmore. A resident of Hoisington since 1951, coming from Jetmore, he was a driller, mechanic, and truck pusher, working for various oil companies, including Peel Bros. and Allen Drilling, retiring in 1991. He enjoyed gardening and was a motorcycle enthusiast, taking a special interest in riding, racing, and repair work. In later years he enjoyed his grandkids’ activities.
Mr. Clarke was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hoisington and the American Motorcycle Association.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Clarke, of the home; two daughters, Alice Clarke and husband George Rhoads of Barnwell, S.C. and Mary Brewer of Hoisington; one brother, Laurence H. Clarke of Hutchinson; four grandkids, Trey Wagnon of Barnwell, S.C., Ben Brewer of Hoisington, Wyatt Brewer of Muncie, Ind., and Megan Brown of Yukon, Okla.; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Joseph A. Clarke Jr.; a daughter, Iris Clarke; brother, Velven Clarke; and an infant sister.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home with the Rev. Kris Brinlee officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home, with family receiving friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Kans for Kids or Clara Barton Foundation in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home*
Box 146
Hoisington, KS  67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 10, 2015