Birth date: May 13, 1935 Death date: Mar 15, 2026
Bernard Joseph “Joe” Clark, was a man of God, his word, and a deep love for family and country. Joe, a devoted husband, loving dad, sweet Papa and Uncle Joe, peacefully entered heaven on March 15, 2026. Born May 13, 1935, in Lin Read Obituary
My husband & I visited Joe and Sarah at their lovely home in Bentonville, AR. They were both gracious hosts giving us a tour of the Bentonville community. Joe was personable and a great conversationalist. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers to Sarah and her family.
Robin & Tim (Kreves)
I love you, Dad. I will miss you and cherish all our happy memories together, from the golf course to camping to trout fishing.
-Brian
What a privilege & honor to know such a strong, yet kind & gentle person. Joe was such a good friend to Vlad & me. Whether listening to Vlad talk about his brother so many times, who also served in the Air Force, or giving me that compassionate & understanding smile, he was there for us. He always let us know he cared deeply. We only knew Joe for a short time, but he never held anything back. We felt like we knew him all our lives. So thankful for the love he shared. May his memory be eternal🙏🏻
Joe, who is my great uncle, had a condo here at the Bay Point golf resort where I reside nearby in Panama City Beach Florida. Joe’s smile I remembered, brightened the room and when he made eye contact with me, I could feel his love, his compassion, and his integrity flow through his eyes which were warming and welcoming. That is my fondest memory, along with his easy going demeanor has he talked with me. I left that day after our visit with much joy. Today Joe is with Jesus surrounded by His love. I love you Joe Clark and I will miss you, but I know I will see you again one day as we all will who put our trust and hope in Jesus Christ, amen. Love, your great nephew Shannon “Shane” Michael Blankenship.
I lost my father at a young age. I began looking for mentors to fill that loss and Joe Clark was at the top of the list. Joe was a leader by his actions. I watched you Joe and I thank you.
Ken Griffey
My Papa was such a special man, and I feel so incredibly lucky to have been his granddaughter.
There are some people in this world whose presence is so strong, so steady, and so full of love that they become the center of everything around them. That was Papa. He was so clearly the head of our family, but what made him so extraordinary was that he carried that role with both strength and softness. He was respected by everyone, but never in a way that created distance. Instead, he made everyone feel safe, welcome, and loved. He had a way of making you feel instantly at ease like you could talk to him about anything, like you had known him forever.
What made Papa so unforgettable was the way he lived. He didn’t just move through life. He embraced it. He seemed to soak up every moment, every conversation, every laugh, every memory. Whether he was out golfing with his friends, spending time with his family, showing up for graduations, or playing Topgolf at almost ninety and still staying out, laughing, drinking scotch, and having the best time with all of us, he was always completely present. He truly lived life to the fullest, and there was something so beautiful about watching someone love life the way he did.
Papa was the kind of man people could always count on. He was steady, dependable, and strong in a way that made everyone around him feel secure. He showed up in the moments that mattered most, especially the hard ones. Whether he was helping his children and family through difficult seasons or simply being there to celebrate the joyful ones, he was always there. He was a constant. A safe place. A source of comfort and strength.
But more than anything, what I will always carry with me is the warmth of who he was.
Papa had this incredible grounding presence about him. Just being near him made you feel better. He had a kindness, a gentleness, and a sincerity that felt so rare. He radiated something that can’t easily be put into words…a genuine goodness that you could feel the moment he walked into a room. He was the kind of person who made you feel seen, made you feel cared for, and made you feel grateful just to be in his presence. He was, in every sense of the word, a truly good man.
You could also feel his faith in everything about him. Not just in what he believed, but in how he lived. It was in the way he treated people. In the warmth he brought into every room. In the way he welcomed others, the way he loved his family, and the tenderness he showed even with his great-grandchildren. His faith wasn’t loud, it was lived. It was in his kindness, his humility, his steadiness, and the love he gave so freely.
I think one of the greatest testaments to the kind of man Papa was is the way our family loved him. We didn’t admire him because we were intimidated by him. We adored him because we were so proud of him. Proud not just of all he had done, but of who he was at his core. He was our leader, yes, but he was also our heart. He was the person we all looked to, the person we all wanted to be near, the person we all wanted to make proud. He was the kind of man you wanted people to know, not because of his accomplishments, but because of the incredible soul that he was: genuine, faithful, kind, loving, and deeply good.
He was the kind of man people hope to become. And he was the kind of man this world will never stop missing.
I will always be grateful that I got to love him, learn from him, laugh with him, and call him mine. There will never be another Papa. He was truly one of a kind, and I know his love, his example, and his presence will live on in every one of us for the rest of our lives.
I have no doubt at all that he is in Heaven. And if Heaven is lucky, it looks a little warmer now.
My heart goes out to the family. It was an honor caring for Mr.Joe and Mrs Sarah every day. He will forever be missed. Love always Mary Templeton
