7/17/1937 – 10/13/2025
Lenexa
John Myrick Clark Sr., 88, of Lenexa, took his last breath at noon Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, comfortable in his chair at home, surrounded by his loving family.
John was born July 17, 1937 to Leon “John” Clark and Grace (Betham) Clark in the Cooper Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. They brought him home to an apartment in Woodbury, New Jersey. His parents then bought a home in Brooklawn, New Jersey, where he lived from the time he was 10 months old until he joined the Army in 1955.
Most of his grammar school classmates went on to Gloucester High School with him, and they enjoyed seeing each other after graduation in reunions every five years. Those reunions went on until 55 years after graduation.
He was the oldest of three siblings. His sister, Edythe, was born when John was 4 years old, and his brother, Leon, came along when John was 11.
John married Grace DiGeronimo on April 26, 1958. During their marriage, they adopted three children, Kathie, John Jr. and Lesley. The family moved to the Kansas City area in 1976. He and Grace later divorced.
He married April Bradley on Nov. 14, 1989. He gained two more adopted children in April’s kids, Amanda and Brian. When he was 53 years old, he and April welcomed a daughter, Mackenzie. He spoke of April glowingly and truly adored her. She took great care of him in his older years, and he appreciated her more than words could express.
At around 30 years old, John became a salesman, and he continued working for five decades. In the early days, he sold some of the first ATMs in existence. He sold computers back when they occupied an entire room, and he marveled at how all of the massive infrastructure once required for memory has now been reduced to devices the size of a fingernail.
He worked for and ran numerous companies over the years. He excelled at what he did and won awards and recognitions for his work. He said he would like to be remembered as “a man who studied the trade, knew his product, and could explain how his product or service could fit the needs of the client and serve a needed purpose. … I want to be remembered as a man who always had his clients’ needs first and foremost in his everyday efforts.”
John loved to entertain. He played the trumpet in various bands and starred in his high school plays. He serenaded his family members often, and he had a song and a story for everyone. He had a beautiful singing voice, and his laughter sounded like chocolate.
He never expected to live past age 60, as no Clark male had ever lived longer than that. But he and his loved ones were blessed to have 28 more years together. He also stayed in touch with many wonderful friends across the country and was known as “Uncle John” by loved ones well beyond his actual family.
He found joy and lived a full life until the very end. While listening to music on Saturday, he suddenly looked around the room and said, “This is beautiful!” Asked to clarify what he was referring to, he said — gleefully, and with awe — “Life!” He passed peacefully and without pain two days later.
He is survived by his wife of almost 36 years, April Clark, of the home; both siblings; and daughters Kathie (Rocky) Deane, of Overland Park; Lesley Lukenbill, of Higginsville, Missouri; Amanda Clark, of Shawnee; and Mackenzie Clark (Mac Moore), of Lawrence. He was blessed with dozens of grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved all of them deeply, and he thanked his higher power regularly for giving them to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sons, John Myrick Clark Jr. and Brian Thomas Clark; and many other relatives he’ll be very glad to see again.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
He would also strongly encourage all who are able to subscribe to The Lawrence Times. He was the publication’s first and biggest fan, and its loudest cheerleader. As he so very frequently proclaimed to anyone within earshot, he loved the award-winning Lawrence Times and their staff.
He will be deeply missed. A celebration of life will be planned at a later date.
“I’d like to be thought of as a loving and kind man who always attempted to provide positive reinforcement to his family members and was always willing to offer a helping hand,” he recently wrote. And he certainly will.
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