Bernice Mae Clark, 95, a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend passed away on
June 4, 2024, in the comfort of her home in Sutter, Illinois, surrounded by her family.
Bernice was born on April 2, 1929, to Ray and Marie (Nagel) Buckert. She attended
school in Sutter next to the Buckert farm. Bernice was united in marriage to George W.
Clark on December 20, 1947. He preceded her in death on April 16, 2016.
As a teenager, Bernice and her twin sister Bulah cleaned homes. Bernice also owned
and operated the Marceline bar for many years. She enjoyed living on her farm and
doing yard work, pulling weeds out of her many flower beds and garden. She also
looked forward to her crops being planted every year and watching her cows grow.
Bernice couldn’t wait for the new calves to arrive. She especially enjoyed her great-
grandchildren coming to see her and watching them ride four-wheelers on the farm that
she had raised her children on. She also loved to gamble. Bernice couldn’t wait to
catch that ride into town to her son Gary’s bar to play the slot machine. Then, she would
stop on the way home for a lottery ticket.
Bernice is survived by her son Gary (Mary Mills) Clark of Hamilton, Illinois; one
daughter, Janet Lapolla Albie, of Riverside, California; her son Frederick (Karen) Clark
of Bartonville, Illinois; one grandson, Janun Lee (Kody Ostrander) Mills of Hamilton,
Illinois; her granddaughter Sheena (Matt) Dodds of Hamilton, Illinois; her granddaughter
Renee Brownlee of Warsaw, Illinois; and great-grandchildren Damyen Mills of Warsaw,
Illinois; Daryen Mills of Warsaw, Illinois; Drayton Mills of Hamilton, Illinois; James Dodds
of Hamilton, Illinois; and Kayden Dodds of Hamilton, Illinois. Other survivors include a
twin sister, Bulah of Hamilton, Illinois; a brother Carroll Buckert of Carthage, Illinois; and
three sisters-in-law: Betty Buckert of Hamilton, Illinois; Karen Buckert of West Point,
Illinois; and Freda Siebert of Phoenix, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews.
Bernice was preceded in death by her husband George W. Clark on April 16, 2016; one
son, William (Bill) Clark, who preceded her in death on November 2, 2013; and her
sister-in-law Susie Buckert of Carthage, Illinois, on May 13, 2024.
Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the Keokuk National
Cemetery. Visitation will be held from noon until 1:30 pm at Printy Funeral Home in
Hamilton, Illinois, before the graveside service.