Clark Edgar Nixon
1917 – 2008
NIXON, CLARK EDGAR, 90, of Fort Myers, died Friday. Arrangements by National Cremation Society and Funeral Home.
Published in The News-Press, (Fort Myers, FL) – January 5, 2008
Clark E Nixon
FORT MYERS, Fla./LA CROSSE — Clark E Nixon, 90, of Fort Myers and formerly of La Crosse died Friday, Jan. 4, 2008, at Shell Point Village Hospice, Fort Myers.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 31, at 11 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2503 Main St., La Crosse.
Clark Nixon was born Oct. 13, 1917, in Milwaukee, son of George C. Nixon and Ethel (Clark) Nixon. He graduated from Appleton High School and Lawrence University, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He received a master’s degree in business administration from Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania.
He entered the Navy as an ensign in 1941 at the Navy Supply School at Harvard Business School. He was war bonds officer for the Ninth Naval District at Great Lakes, Ill., was disbursing officer for the Naval Operating Base and Air Station at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and supply officer on the USS Liguria (AKS-15). He spent 32 years in the naval reserve retiring with the rank of captain.
At the conclusion of World War II he entered business in La Crosse with his father, George C. Nixon, as Pension & Profit Sharing Planners Inc. and Compensation Consultants Inc. He spent 23 years as a pension designer, administrator and actuary.
He received the designation of chartered life underwriter and was president of Western Wisconsin Life Underwriters Association. He was president of Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the board of the Riverland Girl Scouts, served the advisory board of Viterbo College (now University), and was treasurer of the board of Bethany St Joseph Health Care Center. In 1969 he was named to the Council on Aging Committee by Gov. Warren P. Knowles.
In 1957, Clark was elected president and chairman of the board of Bank of Galesville (Wis.), where he served until 1987. In 1967, he was elected president and board chairman of the Bank of Holmen (Wis.), now Park Bank, and served until 1987.
Clark received voice training at the Lawrence Conservatory of Music and enjoyed singing as a soloist and member of a number of civic choirs. In the La Crosse area he sang in the Wesley Methodist Church and First Congregational Church choirs.
He was a member of Badger Lodge No. 345, Eau Claire, Wis., La Crosse Scottish Rite Consistory and Zor Shrine Temple in Madison. He was a member of the Firehouse Jesters and as such was “Flippo” the clown. Nothing pleased him more than to have a pre-schooler standing in front of him, so excited to be with a clown, that he or she couldn’t move a muscle. He appeared in many parades, schools and his grandchildren’s classrooms.
An avid railroad buff, Clark rode railroad trains in the U.S., Europe and China. In 1941, Clark rode in the cab of the three-car Burlington Zephyr from La Crosse to Savannah, Ill., at a time when this was the fastest scheduled run in the world. Many of his recent trips were on special trains and in privately owned railroad cars. He was a member of the National Railway Historical Society and an associate member of the American Association of Private Car Owners.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Z. Michel Nixon, whom he married in 1950; by four children, Nancy (John) Raasch of Pewaukee, Wis., Nina (William) Schiegg of Venice, Fla., Jacquelyne (Bruce) DenUyl of Wilmette Ill., and Carol Lynn (Chester III) Claudon of Seminole, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Mark (Danielle) and Matthew Raasch, Brian (Jennifer) Schiegg, Julie (Matthew) Ritchie, Clark and Eric DenUyl, and Chester IV and Scott Claudon.
A private family interment will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery in Galesville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to: La Crosse Congregational Church UCC organ maintenance, 2503 Main St., La Crosse, WI 54601; Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse, 1331 Clinton St., La Crosse, WI 54601; Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, 1836 South Ave., La Crosse, WI 54601; University of Wisconsin La Crosse Foundation; Shrine Hospitals for Children, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414; or the charity of your choice.
Published in Onalaska Community Life (Onalaska, Wisconsin) Monday, May 19, 2008
In 1959 Clark Nixon, great grandson of Isaac Clark, became president of Bank of Galesville. He had been vice-president since 1957 when he purchased John Cance’s bank stock. As great grandson of the bank’s founder, Nixon was well versed in the Galesville community. Always interested in history, he was president of the Trempealeau County Historical Society, active in the Chamber of Commerce, Bethany St. Joseph Care Center, Riverland Girl Scout Council, Elks and was a clown for the ZOR Firehouse Jesters. Nixon’s interest in history was an impetus for collecting antique banks which can be seen at Bank of Galesville. It was during Clark Nixon’s presidency that the current bank building was constructed. The medallion at the front entrance represents farming, industry, and business ~ the bank’s continuing interests. A Grand Opening was held in February of 1960.
Published on the Bank of Galesville website – Bank History
Clark, was admitted to the hospital shortly after Christmas. He went in with pneumonia, possibly had a heart attack, and was eventually diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Mark’s aunts and grandmother (Marge) were there to be sure that he was well taken care of and after a few days and many different doctors, it was determined that his best option was comfort care. Clark Edgar Nixon passed away on Friday, January 4, 2008 at the age of 90. He lived a wonderfully long and interesting life. Mark and I never grew tired of his stories and endless thirst for knowledge. He introduced us to so many wonderful things…shelling on Sanibel Island, grouper cheeks, and White House ornaments. Most of all, I will remember him for his hospitality. He and Marge welcomed me into the family so effortlessly, it was almost like I’d always been there. I’m lucky to have had so much time with him. We will be attending a memorial service at the retirement community on Sunday, January 20th.
Published on Dani’s Yahoo 360 degree Blog
[Great Grandson of Dempster SGS # 3451 – Clark Edgar Nixon; George Carol Nixon; Alice Lucretia Seeley Nixon; Dempster (#3451); Daniel (# 1554); David; Charles; Samuel; Jonas; Obadiah]
