Merland L. Clark

Merland L. Clark, 94, of Kearney, died November 17, 2024 at his home. Memorial services will be 11:00 am, December 5, 2024 at Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney with Pastor Jeff Wulf officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Faith United Methodist Church, Park Congregational Church, Park Cemetery, or The Salvation Army. Merland Lynn Clark was born to Leland Carl Clark and Mildred Florence Manson Clark on January 21, 1930 near Elgin, Nebraska. He attended Park Center District #52 through the 10th grade and graduated from Elgin Public High School in 1947. In 1949, he married Margy Swanson. Three children were born to this union, Gary, Lynette and Daniel. They were divorced in 1978. He married Barbara McPherrin Allen in1979. Merland farmed for 40 years in the Park Center community before selling the farm. Then, he and his wife Barbara opened the Plantation House Bed and Breakfast in Elgin, NE. Upon the sale of that business, nearly ten years later, they moved to Kearney, NE to be nearer to most of the family. He was employed part time at Kelly Electric for several years and at the Great Platte River Road Archway for two years. Merland got satisfaction from moving snow for neighbors, working on neighborhood roads and helping with Habitat for Humanity housing. He was a past Board Member of the Antelope Soil and Water Conservation District, Upper Elkhorn Natural Resources District and Antelope Co. District #52 School Board. He was also a past member of Farm Bureau, Elgin Chamber of Commerce and Nebraska Association of Bed and Breakfast. Although not personally musical, both Merland and Barbara have been avid followers of their favorite musical groups and have attended many festivals in various locations. They have done quite a lot of traveling. They have been to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and many of the States. Merland has also been to Mexico and the Bahamas. Several years ago, Merland decided to write down his observations of life and family and fun and lots of other stuff. He then began to turn these musings into booklets which he printed out, stapled and folded. These were shared with people far and wide and his fame as a self-published author spread. Survivors include his wife Barbara of Kearney; son, Gary D. Clark and wife Jane of Amherst, NE; daughter, Lynette A. (Bob) Tucker of Salt Lake City UT; son, Dan Clark of Kearney; Step-daughter, Cheri Weber and her former husband Clint of WY; step-daughter, Cristi Peters of Chadron, NE; 9 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Kenneth and his wife Bertha, sister Marjorie and husband Roger Currie and their daughter Beverly Sprout, aunts Myrtle and Alice Clark and step-grandson Riley Weber.

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Merland L. Clark

January 21, 1930 - November 17, 2024