A wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved and supported her family passed away peacefully in her beloved home surrounded by her husband and children on Wednesday, February 3, 2021.
Charleen was born May 20, 1936 in Salt Lake City to Byron Horne and Olea McNeill Kienke. She was an accomplished pianist and singer, performing in college with the “Sigma Tones” quartet and choirs. She graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in elementary education and a minor in home economics. On August 12, 1959, she married the love of her life, Norman Ellsworth Clark, in the Salt Lake Temple. She enjoyed teaching kindergarten and first grade until her first child was born, at which time she devoted all her love and attention to raising her family.
She lived her life with graceful strength and had an unshakable faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ. From within the walls of her home and through her industrious devotion to family, she inspired, encouraged, and taught her posterity determination, obedience, and charity. She was honored to fulfill her sacred role of being a mother.
She served in the church with dedication in many capacities including RS & YW President, but her favorite callings were serving in the Special Needs Mutual for 15 years with her husband and being a faithful visiting teacher/minister.
Charleen struggled for 30 years with health issues, yet she was an example of endurance and determination to get well. She loved attending family gatherings and keeping in contact with those she loved. She embraced all with whom she made contact and impacted the lives of countless people. Her encouraging words and laughter will always be remembered.
Charleen was preceded in death by her parents and four grandsons. She is survived by her husband Norman, children Michelle (Brian) Harris, Janene (Brad) Wright, Susan (Greg) Hatfield, Stephen (Cathy) Clark, Brian (Amanda) Clark, Cheryl (James) Wright, Melissa (Jeff) Quigley. 26 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and her sister, Kathryn Kienke Hershkowitz.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 13th at noon at the Holladay 3rd Ward, 4568 Holladay Blvd., Holladay, UT 84117. A viewing prior to services will be held from 10:00 AM - 11:40 AM. Due to COVID-19 restrictions we ask that you join us with the zoom link below. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn.
You can watch the zoom recording of the services here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/0b84eBwdd9AX4gFDeHG0645H9iGVYKQGIsg-d8cNvt9b2IJv6TbI-2IeiJDoiMZO.bI7ZjW-rqyBCvKr0?startTime=1613241340000
I will miss this kind and compassionate aunt! Until we meet again!
Dear Norman and Family,
We are saddened to hear of Charleen's passing. She was truly a genuine and loving lady. She blessed our lives with her friendship and faith.We pray that you will all continue to feel her special love and influence.
Sincerely,
Darlene and Keith Despain
Charleen has to be the kindest person I ever met.
Norm, we are so sorry to hear of Charlene’s passing. You both have always been great examples of faith and humility to our family. When Charlene would come home teaching with you, she always brought such a sweet spirit into our home. She just radiated the love of Christ.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Steve and Andrea
Sorry. For your loss, even if. It is. Temporary
Wally
My heart goes out to my dear Uncle Norman, my dear Clark cousins, and the Kienke family. I will miss my dear Aunt Charleen and her immaculate kindness and charity. What a model of grace and beauty as she helped not only her own family, but many of us cousins, navigate life. She will truly be at home in the heavens, and may I strive to live like her. She wrote the book. She knew and cared for everyone, without fail.
Sending my love!
-Loren Clark (nephew, and son of Charles/Sally Clark)
Sending love to my Uncle Norman who has always been a steady, true and humble example to be and others. Dear Aunt Charlene was always positive, gentle, pleasing to be around, and always sharing her never-ending tank of kindness. She was loved by my mother, Sally, who will be happy to return the favors above. To all my cousins, God be with you! May your Mom’s legacy be vibrantly alive in each of you! She will be missed!
Norman, Charleen is such a loving soul, blessing out lives with her graceful kindness each time we meet. Thank you for bringing her into our family.
Michelle, Janene, Susan, Stephen, Brian, Cheryl, and Melissa, I love each of you as well as my brother and your mother. She had a direct influence on me that consistently brought happiness. And she also had an indirect influence through each of you as you have individually brought goodness to my life through the years. May peace fill your hearts along with good memories from the past and the expectation of more to come.
David
My heart is breaking with the loss of my precious friend Charleen. I will miss her wonderful stories, the comic strips she saved to share with me, her kindness and most of all, her darling laugh. I am honored to have had Charleen in my life. My love to the Clark Family. Her love for you is forever.
Lori Lambert
Norman,
My deepest condolence on your loss of Charleen. And sorry to have to welcome you to the world's loneliest club -- widowerhood. The old saying that not a day goes by without thinking about her doesn't begin to cover it. In three more months it will be ten years since I lost Colleen, and I still miss her every day.
Sorry to have had to miss Charleen's funeral. My sister Linnea Barney died three months ago, and I'm wearing out fast.
Have you gotten to the Symphony since the big shutdown? I haven't, and with the mask situation, and the fact that my hearing has gotten to the point that what I'm actually hearing is far from what the music really is, my Symphony attendance is probably over.
But we old relics will not have to hang on too much longer before we get to a much happier reunion.
Good Luck!
Norm Smith
Charleen, you always inspired me to follow my heart and do my best to be the best version of myself. You emanated love and was always a wonderful and loving grandma for our children. You loved and raised Michelle, your first of seven, and we've now been together for over 40 years and have shared a remarkable, unique, and exciting life together. I often felt compassion for how difficult your final years were for you health-wise. Despite your own trials, you've always treated me like family, and was always generous with the love you shared, and continuously showed. I was always amazed at your ability to remember everybody's birthdays and special occasions, and then to acknowledge them and celebrate with them. You were tirelessly there for everybody to the end, and I'm sure the sublime and euphoric relaxation you now get to experience is absolutely deserved. Thank you for showing up so thoroughly for so many. I love you!
Michelle and Janene –
I was so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. When I was 10 years old, your family briefly lived next door to me in Murray while you were building a house in Holladay. I have good memories of that year when the 3 of us were all friends. And I remember your mother as being very kind and patient.
All my best at this difficult time,
Kelly Horan Drake