Norman E. Clarke

We celebrate the life of Norman Eugene Clarke, age 90, of Waukee, Iowa who passed away Wednesday, March 26th at Iowa Methodist Medical Center In Des Moines, Iowa. The family will receive friends at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Winterset from 5 P.M. – 7 P.M. on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025. Funeral services will be held at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Winterset at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Entombment will be at Resthaven Mausoleum in West Des Moines to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to Norman Clarke.

Norm would work hard leaving early or late depending on his shift at Natural Gas Pipeline. With the sound of his truck starting, everyone knew Norm was off again to provide the best for his family. Norm would take on other jobs after his shift, working late into the night or weekends. If the family needed Norm you could always hear “KBX4239 base to mobile” over the CB. There was no job Norm would not tackle. Not having specific hobbies, Norm took pride and took meticulous care of his landscape, waxing his boats, and cars and making sure his pool was clean and ready for relaxation. After Norm started Clarke Construction, he would feel the pride coming from his clients for his dedication, work ethics, and his knowledge of how to build, repair and design.

Norm was determined to be a helpful and caring man. One example is when he drove to the top of turkey ranch hill east of Winterset to meet his wife with a car full of women in a snow storm. Only the sides of the road were to be seen and the sheriff suggested to not go any further. He tied a rope around his waist walking in front of the car, leading the way to Winterset. Showing the dedication to not only his wife but the lives of others.

Norm loved walking the aisles of Menards looking for tools he needed for his next project wearing his Clarke Construction shirts proudly! If you wanted to know how a team played the day before, just ask Norm, but keep in mind his heart was with the Iowa State Cyclones and St. Louis Cardinals. If you ever wanted to know about his old cars, how to take care of a farm or grow a garden as he did in his younger years just sit down and have a conversation with him. He not only loved visiting about those things, he loved to teach others and show them…often times with a tape measure, screwdriver or drill. He enjoyed taking his family to Okoboji twice a year along with his boats for vacation. And what can we say about those station wagons they drove for years! More than anything he loved his family most. He and Nancy loved attending activities his children and grandchildren participated in. Norm held on to his strong faith while attending Lutheran Church of Hope on Ashworth for many years. When he could no longer attend he rarely missed a Sunday of watching it on his iPad.

He is survived by his children Doug Clarke and wife Cheryl, Maribeth Trevillyan and husband Dennis, Monica Costa and husband Chuck. He is also survived by his grandchildren Nick (Michelle) Brannen, Ben Clarke, Sarah (Cooper) Floyd, Daphane (Tim) Bjork, Buphie Trevillyan and Joe Costa. He is survived by his great grandchildren Elliot and Emma Brannen and Everleigh and Bridger Bjork. He is survived by his sister Judy (Ross) Bedwell and brother Jerry (Charlotte) Clarke along with many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Nancy; sisters Edna Shreves – Keeton, Lyla Waller, Norma Lunnon, Cleo Roby and Dorothea Edmonds; brothers Phillip Clarke and Sonny Clarke.

Online condolences may be shared at www.caldwellparrish.com