Donald "Don" Edward Clark, 93, of Green Bay, entered eternal life on October 13 after a short illness. Don was born on November 17, 1931 in Askeaton, Wisconsin.

As a child, Don attended St. Mary's in Greenleaf, which he said was the only public school in Wisconsin run by nuns. Don attended De Pere High School, excelling in academics and athletics. In his 1947 Yearbook, numerous references were made about him coaching younger students and needing to stay away from the girls! Following high school, Don joined the Air Force and was stationed in England and North Africa as an Airman First Class. He received an honorable discharge in 1954.

He then attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison, receiving a BS and MS in Social Work. Following his graduation, Don worked for the State of Wisconsin, Department of Corrections, for 32 years, retiring in 1992. During his lifetime, Don dedicated his work to bettering the communities he lived in and received numerous awards and recognitions. These included a citation from President Gerald Ford in 1976, during the Bicentennial, for heading one of the top 200 social programs in the United States, the Sanger B. Powers Award in 1991, and from the American Correctional Association for his work on a Parole Corrections Project. Other community roles he fulfilled included working as the Chairman of the Brown County Unified Board, and the Chairman of both the Long Range Planning and Conference Affairs Committees for the Board. Don also was a longtime board member and active volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, where he was an usher, and Paul's Pantry, a local food bank.

Family was extremely important to Don, and he married the love of his life, Joan De Peaux in 1957 and they recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. Don and Joan raised four children, moving several times for his career before settling in Green Bay in 1977. In retirement, Don and Joan enjoyed travel, visiting Ireland, France, the Canadian Rockies, California, their daughter and family in Seattle, WA, and many other locations. They wintered for several years in Madeira Beach, Florida, and looked forward to visits from their children and grandchildren while there. Many family stories and a lot of laughs were shared through the years around Don and Joan's kitchen table. Don enjoyed watching the Packers, playing golf, going to the YMCA, reading, fishing and weekly breakfasts with a special group of friends. One year, while fishing for salmon in Alaska, Don had the thrill (or scare) of his life when he was confronted by a grizzly bear! Don will be lovingly remembered for his integrity, deep and quiet faith in God, wisdom, dry sense of humor, and good conversation. These were gifts he shared with everyone that knew him.

Don is survived by his wife, Joan; children, Daniel (Mary) Clark, Green Bay, Mary (Perry) Nelson, Maple Grove, MN, Michael (Lorna) Clark, Green Bay, Kathryn (Mark) Johnson, Madison; nine grandchildren, Emily Clark, Olivia (Dan Schmeck) Clark, Erica (John) Paulus, Andrea (Stuart Collins) Nelson, Nicholas Johnson, Alec Johnson, Andrew Johnson, McKinnell (Patrick Duffey) Severson, Graham Severson; five great grandchildren, Oli, Castiel, and Jabari Clark, Brynn Paulus, and Lane Schmeck; a sister, Monica Penza; a sister-in-law, Yoshi (Suzuki) De Peaux; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lillian Clark; a brother Pat Clark; sisters. Mary Clark, Kate VanderHeyden, Eileen Wienke; his parents-in-law, Leroy and Jeanette (Terrien) De Peaux; a sister-in-law Pharol (Johnson) Clark; and brothers-in-law Jack Wienke, John Penza, Jim Vanderheyden, and Richard De Peaux.

Friends and family will gather at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2771 Oakwood Dr., from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 1; Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11 a.m. Entombment will be at Allouez Chapel Mausoleum. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to St. Vincent de Paul, Green Bay.

Don's family wishes to acknowledge with gratitude the many health professionals who cared for Don, especially the staff at New Perspectives. Your dedication and compassion made a difference in Don's life.