Maurice J. Clark

Maurice J. Clark, 85 of McCool Junction, died Sunday, May 30, 2004 in York. He was born November 22, 1918 near Beaver Crossing to John J. and Margaret A. (Geiger) Clark. Maurice graduated from McCool High School in 1937 and joined the Air Force in 1942. He initially had trained as a pilot-instructor. After graduating from Randolph Field in Texas, he was sent to Fairmont Air Base, Fairmont, NE and trained as a tail gunner on a B-29 for six weeks. There his squadron was chosen by Colonel Paul Tibbets and sent to Wendover Field in Utah. While there he underwent more training and became part of the 509th Composite Group First Atomic Bombardment. On July 30, 1945 he and fellow crew members were sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico to pick up the second atomic bomb called the “Fat Man.” They delivered it to Tinian Island in the Marianas. In March of 1946 he was discharged as a Sergeant and returned to the farm. He married Regina Barkmeier on July 30, 1946 in Exeter. Maurice was a longtime farmer and livestock producer. He was member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in McCool Jct., McCool American Legion Ronald Porter Post #341 and served on the McCool Farmer’s Co-op board.

Survivors include two daughters, Sharon (Bill) Cuda and Shirley (Tom) Scholz both of York; five sons, Dennis (Joan) Clark, Ron (Marcia) Clark and Allen (Shelly) Clark all of McCool Jct., Roger (Edy) Clark of Milford and Mike (Brenda) Clark of Lincoln; 29 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; one brother, Lyle Clark of York. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and one brother, Jerome.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in York with burial and military rites at St. Joseph’s Cemetery near York. A rosary will be said Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Metz Chapel in York. Memorials in care of the family.