Michael L. Clement, age 87, of Preston, Minn., met his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Minn., where he resided since April 2022.
Michael was born in Oregon to Ralph and Evelyn Clement, the eldest of four children. He did most of his growing up years in Scappoose, Oreg. In 1952, the family moved to Iowa where Michael graduated from Ottumwa High School and completed Bible College at Midwestern School of Evangelism. While in Iowa, he met his sweetheart, Donna (Joan) Fagen and they were married June 14, 1958. They were married 63 years until Joan’s death on September 26, 2021.
He and Joan had eight children. During their early years, they farmed near Sigourney, Iowa. In 1968, they moved to the farm near Preston where Mike continued farming in addition to taking on other jobs such as carpentry work. He drove a newspaper delivery route for many years. Mike loved the outdoors, bicycling and canoeing. He also enjoyed traveling and seeing historic places. He loved to sing and had a strong, beautiful voice. He was an avid reader and kept a daily journal. He was athletic and loved to play “touch” football at family gatherings. He was known to cheer enthusiastically at his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. He had a deep faith and ministered to others through teaching, preaching, and in later years he and Joan made weekly visits to homebound members of their church. Mike and Joan went on various short-term mission trips in America and abroad. It was important to him to share the message of Jesus with his children and loved ones.
Michael is survived by his eight children: Julie (Darrell) Buenger, Kimberlee (Greg) Pile, Cynthia (Todd) Bergland, Pamela (Jerry) Wendt, Lisa (Darren) Ross, David (Lori) Clement, Carol (Bill) Hall, and Linda (Don) Bray; 24 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, siblings Terrence (Rita) Clement and Carol Collman, sister-in-law Colleen Clement and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joan, grandson Bryce Clement, infant great-granddaughter Katie Boulton, son-in-law Jerry Carter. His brother Ray (Colleen) Clement passed eight days after Michael, on October 4, 2023.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on October 21, 2023, at Marion Road Christian Church, 4051 50th Ave SE, Rochester, Minn., where he was a long-time member. Visitation will be one hour before the service.
A heartfelt thank you for the loving care and kind attention provided by the staff at Chosen Valley Care Center.
Memorials may be given to Marion Road Christian Church; Sunshine Acres Children’s Home in Mesa, Ariz., (http://sunshineacres.org), or Leeton Christian Church, Leeton, Mo., – the latter two in which grandchildren are in full-time service.
Online condolences can be shared at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.
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