John Clear was born in Omaha, Neb., on June 24, 1918, to Thomas and Elizabeth (Meyers) Clear. He attended school in Omaha through the fifth grade. His parents moved to Minnesota on March 3, 1931, and settled near Deer Creek, in Oak Valley Twp. He finished grade school in District 93, Inman Township.
He received the rank of Tech sargeant in Merrils Marauders and Mars Task Force. He served as far as 100 miles behind Japanese lines doing reconnaissance and combat patrol. During this time he received the bronze star for heroic and meritorious service against the enemy. He received four campaign battle stars, Infantry Combat Badge and Chinese War Memorial Medals, various theater ribbons and two bronze star medals. He was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy in December of 1945.
He was baptized as an adult by a chaplain in the Army and later confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Henning. He farmed for three years in the Henning area before selling and moving into Almora in March of 1949.
In 1951, he was recalled into the service with Co. L National Guard 47th Division of Fergus Falls and received training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He trained at Fort Benning, Georgia in the 15th Ranger Co. and received Airborne and Ranger training, where he was awarded parachute and glider badges. He took jump master training with the 11th Airborne, making 58 jumps. He served as field training and jump master instructor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, returning home in August of 1952 as M/Sgt. His active service time included four years, eight months and 27 days.
He did garage work in Almora and Henning for several years, also working at Cordes Implement. Later, he went to work for Martin Engineering of Pelican Rapids building power lines. In 1974, he worked at Home Crest in Wadena as a welder and when his health failed, he retired.
He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Disabled American Veteran's Chapter #25 in Fergus Falls and was a life member of VFW Post 612.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping and cooking. He especially enjoyed making his home recipes.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; two daughters, Jerry (Richard) Brenner of Branson, Missouri and Vicki (Dale) Downing of Almora; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Iris Bowman and Emma Clear, a baby brother, James, a daughter, Darla Koep, two sons-in-law, Dave Lee and Wesley Koep, and a granddaughter, Michelle Hansen.
Visitation: Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie
Clergy: Rev. Kirk Lee
Burial: Oakridge Cemetery, Almora with full military honors
Funeral Home: Lind Family Funeral Service, Parkers Prairie
He received the rank of Tech sargeant in Merrils Marauders and Mars Task Force. He served as far as 100 miles behind Japanese lines doing reconnaissance and combat patrol. During this time he received the bronze star for heroic and meritorious service against the enemy. He received four campaign battle stars, Infantry Combat Badge and Chinese War Memorial Medals, various theater ribbons and two bronze star medals. He was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy in December of 1945.
He was baptized as an adult by a chaplain in the Army and later confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Henning. He farmed for three years in the Henning area before selling and moving into Almora in March of 1949.
In 1951, he was recalled into the service with Co. L National Guard 47th Division of Fergus Falls and received training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He trained at Fort Benning, Georgia in the 15th Ranger Co. and received Airborne and Ranger training, where he was awarded parachute and glider badges. He took jump master training with the 11th Airborne, making 58 jumps. He served as field training and jump master instructor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, returning home in August of 1952 as M/Sgt. His active service time included four years, eight months and 27 days.
He did garage work in Almora and Henning for several years, also working at Cordes Implement. Later, he went to work for Martin Engineering of Pelican Rapids building power lines. In 1974, he worked at Home Crest in Wadena as a welder and when his health failed, he retired.
He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Disabled American Veteran's Chapter #25 in Fergus Falls and was a life member of VFW Post 612.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping and cooking. He especially enjoyed making his home recipes.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; two daughters, Jerry (Richard) Brenner of Branson, Missouri and Vicki (Dale) Downing of Almora; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Iris Bowman and Emma Clear, a baby brother, James, a daughter, Darla Koep, two sons-in-law, Dave Lee and Wesley Koep, and a granddaughter, Michelle Hansen.
Visitation: Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie
Clergy: Rev. Kirk Lee
Burial: Oakridge Cemetery, Almora with full military honors
Funeral Home: Lind Family Funeral Service, Parkers Prairie
John Clear was born in Omaha, Neb., on June 24, 1918, to Thomas and Elizabeth (Meyers) Clear. He attended school in Omaha through the fifth grade. His parents moved to Minnesota on March 3, 1931, and settled near Deer Creek, in Oak Valley Twp. He finished grade school in District 93, Inman Township.
He received the rank of Tech sargeant in Merrils Marauders and Mars Task Force. He served as far as 100 miles behind Japanese lines doing reconnaissance and combat patrol. During this time he received the bronze star for heroic and meritorious service against the enemy. He received four campaign battle stars, Infantry Combat Badge and Chinese War Memorial Medals, various theater ribbons and two bronze star medals. He was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy in December of 1945.
He was baptized as an adult by a chaplain in the Army and later confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Henning. He farmed for three years in the Henning area before selling and moving into Almora in March of 1949.
In 1951, he was recalled into the service with Co. L National Guard 47th Division of Fergus Falls and received training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He trained at Fort Benning, Georgia in the 15th Ranger Co. and received Airborne and Ranger training, where he was awarded parachute and glider badges. He took jump master training with the 11th Airborne, making 58 jumps. He served as field training and jump master instructor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, returning home in August of 1952 as M/Sgt. His active service time included four years, eight months and 27 days.
He did garage work in Almora and Henning for several years, also working at Cordes Implement. Later, he went to work for Martin Engineering of Pelican Rapids building power lines. In 1974, he worked at Home Crest in Wadena as a welder and when his health failed, he retired.
He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Disabled American Veteran's Chapter #25 in Fergus Falls and was a life member of VFW Post 612.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping and cooking. He especially enjoyed making his home recipes.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; two daughters, Jerry (Richard) Brenner of Branson, Missouri and Vicki (Dale) Downing of Almora; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Iris Bowman and Emma Clear, a baby brother, James, a daughter, Darla Koep, two sons-in-law, Dave Lee and Wesley Koep, and a granddaughter, Michelle Hansen.
Visitation: Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie
Clergy: Rev. Kirk Lee
Burial: Oakridge Cemetery, Almora with full military honors
Funeral Home: Lind Family Funeral Service, Parkers Prairie
He received the rank of Tech sargeant in Merrils Marauders and Mars Task Force. He served as far as 100 miles behind Japanese lines doing reconnaissance and combat patrol. During this time he received the bronze star for heroic and meritorious service against the enemy. He received four campaign battle stars, Infantry Combat Badge and Chinese War Memorial Medals, various theater ribbons and two bronze star medals. He was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy in December of 1945.
He was baptized as an adult by a chaplain in the Army and later confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Henning. He farmed for three years in the Henning area before selling and moving into Almora in March of 1949.
In 1951, he was recalled into the service with Co. L National Guard 47th Division of Fergus Falls and received training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He trained at Fort Benning, Georgia in the 15th Ranger Co. and received Airborne and Ranger training, where he was awarded parachute and glider badges. He took jump master training with the 11th Airborne, making 58 jumps. He served as field training and jump master instructor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, returning home in August of 1952 as M/Sgt. His active service time included four years, eight months and 27 days.
He did garage work in Almora and Henning for several years, also working at Cordes Implement. Later, he went to work for Martin Engineering of Pelican Rapids building power lines. In 1974, he worked at Home Crest in Wadena as a welder and when his health failed, he retired.
He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Disabled American Veteran's Chapter #25 in Fergus Falls and was a life member of VFW Post 612.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping and cooking. He especially enjoyed making his home recipes.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; two daughters, Jerry (Richard) Brenner of Branson, Missouri and Vicki (Dale) Downing of Almora; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Iris Bowman and Emma Clear, a baby brother, James, a daughter, Darla Koep, two sons-in-law, Dave Lee and Wesley Koep, and a granddaughter, Michelle Hansen.
Visitation: Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie
Clergy: Rev. Kirk Lee
Burial: Oakridge Cemetery, Almora with full military honors
Funeral Home: Lind Family Funeral Service, Parkers Prairie
Gravesite Details
Provided courtesy of the Otter Tail County Historical Society (www.otchs.org), which has further information available in its research library and on its web site.
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