Eugene O. Clark.

Our dear old dad, who taught us to love the outdoors, lived for 83 years and died peacefully at 12:20 am Wednesday January 13, in the presence of his daughters.

He loved taking rides around town and is probably best known in Coal City as the "whistling mailman". Many residents delighted to his melodious accompanied delivering their mail.

After his retirement from the post office he used his "routing skills to help deliver meals on wheels.

He worked part time as a tree trimmer and helped many homeowners with his arborist skills. Upon retiring he found more interesting uses for wood than burning it. Lucky the family or friends who were gifted with one of the wonderful wooden treasures he produced.

Dad was an Emergency Squad Volunteer for 31 years from its beginning. The Area number 1 outdoor club, where he loved to fish, saw him serve in multiple board positions, as did the municipal park board. He enjoyed taking family and friends to the club, to view flora and fauna, fossil hunt, or if you were lucky watch him whistle birds out of the trees.

He loved to travel and as one of his woodworking projects, built a folding table and benches, Dad could dad could stop wherever the view demanded, and have a meal or just view the scenery. He got bitten by the traveling bug as a young man in the Navy, the war ended before he saw action, but he still had interesting stories, recorded by the Coal City local library for a history project.

Pop will be remembered by his five daughters Linda Clark Baker of Noblesville IN, Carol Clark of Minneapolis MN, Yvonne Donnelley (Jed) of Berkeley CA, Anita Clark Phelps (Christopher) of Polo, IL and Loralee Clark of Lacrosse WI, nine granddaughters Sarah (Jeff) Schmitt, Melissa Rigney (BJ), Mariah Ehlert, Marthe Phelps. (Fiancé Jon Dela Cruz), Kirstin Phelps Marini (Luigi), Alex Ebbert (Byron), Faye Donnelley, Clair Donnelley, Dagny Mochalski. And four great grandchildren, Josh Porterfield (the first boy in three generations) Maggie Schmitt, Eliot Schmitt and Logan Rigney. And a sister Louise Togliatti.

Gene will be especially missed by Ed and Michelle Smith great neighbors and fast friends.

Eugene's body will be donated to science at The Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois

A Memorial Mass will be held at 5:00 pm on Friday January 15, 2010 at The Blessed of The Assumption Virgin Mary Church. Father Robert Noeson will officiate. Fellowship and a dinner will be served by the Martha's immediately following the mass at The Berst Center Hall. Please come share your interesting stories with the family.

Memorial contributions in Gene's name may be made to Operation Migration, the group teaching endangered whooping cranes a rout to Florida with ultra lights. operationmigration.org

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Ferrari Funeral Services in Coal City online guest book at www.ferrarifuneral.com or phone (815) 634-4040 for information.