Arlene F. Clark

     Arlene F. Clark, 98, a resident of rural LeClaire, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Harmony Utica Ridge in Davenport, Iowa.

     Private family graveside will be held at Glendale Cemetery in LeClaire. Family members in the Quad-City area are invited to attend.

     Arlene Frances Meyer was born on March 15, 1927, to Hugo Albert Meyer and Erma Frances Leptien on their family’s dairy farm in Lincoln Township. She went to the one-room school, Crombie, and graduated from the 8th grade.

     Arlene was united in marriage to Henry Clark on Valentine’s Day in 1943. They were married for 54 years, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 1993. Their farm in LeClaire Township, about four miles east of LeClaire, began with 160 acres and has been in the family since 1900. Henry and Arlene farmed up to 1100 acres of land in LeClaire and Lincoln Townships throughout the 1980’s. Arlene worked with Henry on the farm, especially with the dairy and angus cattle and her chickens. Their family was well-known for innovative methods employed in both hog and cattle production.

     Arlene was involved with school activities in the local community. She belonged to the Stone School Mother’s Club, a group of local ladies, many of whose children attended the school which closed in 1956. This group morphed into a card club that continued after the school had closed, visiting someone’s home on the 4th Thursday afternoon of each month. Later, Arlene took on the role of PTA President at Cody Elementary School, Blackhawk (Pleasant Valley) Junior High School and Pleasant Valley High School.

     She introduced her husband, Henry, to a group of her friends in Lincoln Township, and they formed a card club group whose six couples met monthly for 60 years. Arlene loved to play card games of all types and enjoyed watching sports – especially the St. Louis Cardinals. She attended sporting events featuring her children and grandchildren. Henry and Arlene were avid ballroom dancers, frequenting the Col Ballroom in Davenport and Fairyland Park near DeWitt.

     Arlene will be remembered by her family for her sweet tooth – she loved Whitey’s Ice Cream Chocolate Sodas. She also loved to bake cakes, cookies and other types of desserts. Each of her children had a special cake for their birthdays.

     Arlene and her husband, Henry were involved in a variety of farm-related service groups including the Scott County Pork and Beef Producers, Scott County Farm Bureau, Scott County Extension Service, and the Pioneer Settlers Descendants of Scott County. They were also members of the Plus-60 Group. They enjoyed traveling, especially to Hawaii after harvest in the late fall.

     Those left behind to honor her memory include her daughters, Beverly (Richard) Clark-Floss of Baxter, Iowa, Joni (Ronald) Swanson of Northbrook, Illinois; sons, Eldon (Carol) Clark of LeClaire, Iowa, James of Chelsea, Michigan; and daughter-in-law, Jackie Clark of Bettendorf, Iowa. Extended family members include eleven grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry, her brother, Alan Meyer, her parents, Hugo and Erma Meyer, and her son, Richard Lee Clark.

     Arlene’s family wants to thank the many caregivers who gave her twenty-four hour loving care for several years so that she was able to remain in her home on the farm until her very last few days.

     In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to a charity of your choice.