William “Bill” Clarke
June 10, 1931 – July 10, 2023
Bill passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on July 10, 2023, at the the Third Crossing Manor, Gladstone at the age of 92. Bill was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Manchester, England to John & Olive Clarke.
Bill grew up in in Lancashire and Yorkshire, England working on his parents farms. He then took on his own farm in Lothersdale, Yorkshire after his marriage to Margaret(nee Wall) in 1958 and raised their 3 older children: Steven, Patricia (Tricia) and Catherine (Cathy). He and Margaret also farmed a hill farm in the Yorkshire Dales where their third daughter Jackie was born.
Bill soon felt that England was becoming too constraining and he wanted to follow in his grandfathers footsteps. He was always up for new adventure and and so he and Margaret and his 4 children set sail and immigrated to Canada in 1974. His love to farm led him first to Blenheim Ontario where he worked on a dairy farm and his 4th daughter Dawn was born. Bill then started farming on his own in Wellington County and his youngest son, Jonathan was born in Fegus, Ontario.
The call of the west was a big pull for Bill to have his own farm and opportunities for his sons to farm and set up farming in Amaranth Manitoba where they lived for nearly 40 years.
Bill had a great love for life, he loved his wife Margaret, his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren and he loved All Creatures Great and Small, especially his dogs. He had a great sense of humour, told the best stories, told and made up great rhymes, loved country music and folk music. He loved to talk to people and often told great tales about his childhood years and growing up in England. Bill was dearly loved and will be terribly missed by all of his family and all who knew him.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Margaret (Wall) of 64 years. Daughters: Patricia (Tim) Scoffield, Catherine (Peter) Robinson, Jackie (Curtis) Sutherland, Dawn (Marty) Isfeld, and son Jonathan (Keri), 22 Grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren, his sister Pauline Naylor and brother John Clarke.
Bill is predeceased by his parents John and Olive Clarke, granddaughter Dawn Robinson. May he be reunited with his eldest son, Steven Clarke whom he has missed terribly.
Clarke’s Funeral Home Gladstone – MacGregor in care of arrangements.