Harlan E. Cluts

Funeral services for Harlan Cluts, age 88, Clark will be held on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 at 10:30 AM in the United Methodist Church at Clark with the Rev. Warren Rhodes officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Rosehill Cemetery in Clark. Music will be provided by Wanda Bethke and the Lighthouse Quartet. Casketbearers will be Merritt, Jr, Marshall and Mike Seefeldt, Harold Nipe, Myron and Harley Lamb. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark and at the Church preeding services. Harlan E. Cluts, age 88, Clark, died on Friday evening, September 17, 2004 in the Jenkins Living Center at Watertown where he had resided since September 14. He was born in Merton Township, south of Clark on June 11, 1916, the son of Charlie and Mabel (Cochran) Cluts. He attended school in Merton Township thru the 8th grade. Following his schooling, he continued assisting on the family farm until moving to Illinois when he was 17 to work on a dairy farm. He continued his work there for about eight years. In 1941 he entered the US Army and served his country until 1945. While in the Army he served in the South Pacific and became a cook later taking additional training at Bakers/Confectionary Schooling for the Army. After his discharge he returned to the family farm in Clark County. He then traveled again to Illinois to sell some seed and after his arrival in Illinois; his brother Merle introduced him to his future wife, Mary Welsh Teal. She was a widow and the Mother of Greg Teal. Harlan and Mary were married on January 12, 1953 at Dixon, Ill. The family moved back to the family farm in Merton Township and Harlan adopted Greg. Harlan and Mary had three daughters. The family loved and farmed on the farm south of Clark until moving into Clark in 1973. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Cagley-Smith American Legion Post of Clark. He worked at the Clark Farm Store where he later became a partner in the business. Harlan thoroughly enjoyed the farm store business, as he was quite handy at repairing equipment, especially balers. He later sold his interest in the business to Bob Smith. Some of his hobbies included fishing, gardening, camping with his wife, pitching horseshoes and woodworking. He will long be remembered for his love of laughing. Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Gregory Cluts and wife Susan of Traer, IA, Colleen Petaros and husband Tom of Maquoketa, IA, Laurel Dose and husband Joe of Tea, SD and Ione Wohlhueter and husband Jack of Franklin, TN; 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; a brother, Merle Cluts and wife Alene of Rochelle, IL and a sister, Ruby McWhorter of Peoria, AZ. Preceding him in death was his parents, wife Mary on July 9, 2001 and a sister, Elsie Cluts.