December 2019 - Passage. Paul and Gretchen Clark died within hours of each other on Christmas day 2019. Gretchen had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease the last years of her life. Paul died as a result of Parkinson’s disease. They had been married for 65 years. They had lived a rich, full life with a focus on family, faith and service.

Paul was born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest son of Elden Dewey and Pauline Sevy Clark. He grew up in Provo, Utah. Scouting was a big part of his life as a young man, and attending the World Scout Jamboree in Paris in 1947 was an unforgettable adventure. Paul graduated from BYU High School before serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the New England Mission. He met a lovely young woman, Gretchen, in one of the areas he worked in. Several years later they met again at Brigham Young University.

Gretchen was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. In her high school years she was involved in the speech and debate program and won awards. She enjoyed using her talent for speaking throughout her life. At the end of her freshman year of college at BYU, Gretchen and Paul were sealed in marriage in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 9, 1954.

Paul graduated from Brigham Young University, and earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. He then did training in Salt Lake City and San Francisco for a Urology specialty. He served in the US Army, and was stationed at Letterman General Hospital at the Presidio in San Francisco and at the US Army hospital in Nuremberg, Germany, attaining the rank of Major. He then returned to Salt Lake City, where he had a practice in Urology for three decades.

After Paul’s professional training was finished and her children were in school, Gretchen finished her Bachelor’s degree in history at the University of Utah and did graduate work in European history. She also participated in many community organizations, including Medical Wives Auxiliaries, PTA, League of Women Voters, Parents Against Drunk Drivers and Utahns United Against the Nuclear Arms Race. She enjoyed family history, and especially delighted in sharing her family stories and introducing her ancestors’ lives to her children. Gretchen also shared her love for books, ideas and constant learning with her family. Gretchen loved her garden and all plants and animals.

After retirement, Paul and Gretchen moved to St. George, Utah, for a decade before they returned to Salt Lake City.

Paul enjoyed his career very much, but also enjoyed his leisure time. Skiing, racquetball, boats, hosting and entertaining, telling stories, playing the piano and meeting new people all brought Paul great pleasure. But his absolute favorite activity was spending time with his family and sharing all his interests with them. Gretchen and Paul and their family love the outdoors, especially the mountains and the ocean and lakes, and have spent many happy times in outdoor activities.

Before and after retirement, Paul and Gretchen traveled to as many places as they could, both in the United States and throughout the world. Paul was invited to China as part of a medical delegation before China was open for tourism. They made many road trips, and especially liked visiting family history sites.

They served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in many capacities, including as temple ordinance workers. They greatly enjoyed an assignment to the inner-city Branch in Salt Lake City. Also very memorable to them was their service in Africa where Paul served as President of the Kenya Nairobi mission and then as area medical advisor in Johannesburg South Africa.

In the last years of his life, the deterioration of Gretchen’s health and memory was heartbreaking for Paul.

Probably the greatest challenge of their life was the loss of their son, Tom, who was killed by a drunk driver at age 17. They faced that difficulty with faith and forgiveness, but longed for a reunion with him, which we are sure they’re enjoying at this time.

Gretchen and Paul’s greatest joy was their family. They were devoted parents to their six children: Susan (Spade) Whittemore of Winchester, Virginia; Cathleen (Russ) Packer of Fruit Heights, Utah; Paul Kenneth (aka PK) (Cheryl) Clark Jr of Heber City Utah; Stephen (Karen) Clark of Cottonwood Heights Utah; Thomas Garner Clark (deceased); and Matthew (Shannon Stewart) Clark of Newport Beach California. Gretchen was very fond of babies and children, especially their 23 grandchildren and 47 great grandchildren.

Gretchen and Paul were preceded in death by her parents, Ora Lee and William Peter Knecht, and Paul’s parents, Elden Dewey and Pauline Sevy Clark. Gretchen’s older brother, William Lee Knecht, and his former wife Eunice Harmon; her brother-in-law, Burr Salmon Eldredge; Paul’s brother and sister-in-law, Elden and Valentine Clark, and Paul’s brother Robert Sevy Clark also preceded them in death. In their generation they are survived by Gretchen’s sister Jean Eldredge, and Gretchen’s brother and his wife, Peter and Susan Knecht, and by Paul’s sister-in-law, Verna Clark. They have many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

Services for Paul and Gretchen will be held Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 10:00 am at the LDS ward located at 3455 Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights. The visitations will be held one hour prior starting at 9:00 am at the same location. Interment will follow at Memorial Holladay Cemetery located at 4900 S Memory Lane, Holladay.