ELLINWOOD — Ural G. “Jack” Clair, 86, died Dec. 4, 2016, at Ellinwood District Hospital. Born Oct. 10, 1930, in rural Edwards County, he was the son of Thomas and Frieda Ingerham Clair. In 1948 he graduated from Lewis High School. On Nov. 27, 1952, he married Jeanette Kowalsky in San Francisco, Calif. She died on Oct. 22, 1987. On Dec. 7, 1990, he married Bernita K. Urban Schloemer in Ellinwood. She died on April 27, 2015. He was the owner of Jack’s Welding, retiring in 1995.
Mr. Clair was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving on the USS Henderson during the Korean War. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1187, Heritage Club, lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, and a volunteer Senior Citizen Bus driver, all of Ellinwood, the Eagles Club, Elks Club of Great Bend, and the Sunflower Polka Club.
Survivors include three sons, Gary and Jean Clair, of Great Bend, Larry Clair and Debbie Tammen and Kevin and Gina Clair, both of Ellinwood; a daughter, Janice and Steve Birzer, of Ellinwood; six grandchildren, Shawn and Amanda Clair, Shane Clair, Cole and Karah Birzer, Kelsey and Brandon Yeakley, Cody Clair, and Connor Birzer; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Clovis “Buddy” Clair and Tommie Lee Clair; and a sister, Dolores Brenn.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ellinwood with Father Terrance Klein officiating. Burial will be at the Lakin Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood with military honors by the U.S. Navy. Visitation will be held from 1-8 p.m. on Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Parish Vigil and Knights of Columbus Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Ellinwood EMS or St. Joseph Altar Society in care of Birzer Funeral Home of Lyons.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Birzer Funeral Home*
214 West Ave. South
Lyons, KS 67554
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 6, 2016