Clemens, Marcus A. (1916-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Nov 17 p. 13

Birth date: 1916 Apr 27

text of obituary:

MARCUS A. CLEMENS

Marcus A. Clemens, 92, of Dock Woods Community, Lansdale, Pa., died Oct. 2, 2008. He was born to Garrett A. and Elizabeth (Alderfer) Clemens in Franconia Township on April 27, 1916.

He graduated from Souderton High School and Pierce College of Business Administration in Philadelphia. He married Helen Gotwals in 1937, who preceded him in death.

He had a long and notable career, starting in the trust department of Union National Bank. He served in Civilian Public Service from 1945 to 1947, initially in a camp in Luray, Va., and later at the National Service Board for Religious Objectors in Washington, D.C. He founded and was president of Ridge Hosiery Company in Quakertown. He served as general manager and secretary of Horace W. Longacre Inc., Franconia. He was vice president and controller of Granite Hosiery Mills, Souderton. He was deeply involved in nursing and retirement home administration at Menno Haven in Chambersburg, Elm Terrace in Lansdale and at Dock Woods Community, where he was also a board member.

His lifelong advocacy for Christian education was evidenced by his participation as a founding member of Quakertown and Penn View Christian schools. Christopher Dock Mennonite High School honored him for his work on a study that resulted in the creation of the school.

He was a founding member and president of Penn Foundation for Mental Health in Sellersville. In the 1950s he served as president of the Franconia Mission Board. He was an active, lifelong member of the Mennonite church, holding memberships at Franconia Mennonite, Rocky Ridge Mennonite and Plains Mennonite churches.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis, of Dock Woods Community; a sister, Ada Hackman of Alberta; three sons and three daughters, Donald Clemens and his wife, Marie, of Goshen, Ind., Orrie Clemens and his wife, Terri, of Fort Collins, Colo., Leanne Wentorf and her husband, Dale, of Goshen, Jane Landes and her husband, Henry, of Sellersville, Carolyn Bontrager and her husband, Philip, of Berrien Springs, Mich., and Richard Clemens and his wife, Jane, of Harrisonburg, Va.; 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen (Gotwals) Clemens; a brother, Floyd Clemens; and a sister, Ruth Musselman.

Funeral services were held at Plains Mennonite Church of Hatfield. Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.