Joseph A. "Burtus" "JA" "Sparky" Clark, age 95, of Kenneth, MN passed away peacefully on Monday, June 27th at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Memorial Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, where he received exceptional & loving care. Joe was born on June 19th 1916 in a farmhouse in rural Rock County. He was the son of Thomas Finn and Anna Mae (Bartley) Clark. Joe attended rural grade school and graduated from Edgerton Public High School. He traveled to California and worked a couple of years there before returning to Rock County to farm with his father. He then joined the US Army and was first stationed in Fort Lewis Wash. He returned briefly to marry the love of his life, Mildred Ida Gamber in 1941. Then it was off to Fort Sill, OK serving our country as an officer during WWII. After his honorable discharge in 1946, they returned again to farm for 17 years near Edgerton, MN. Now it was time for a career change. Joe went back to night school and in 1960 began working as a teller for Hardwick State Bank in Hardwick, MN. Three years later, he was recruited by the State Bank of Kenneth and became their loan officer and insurance agent. Wasn?t long before he became bank president and he successfully helped orchestrate a branch bank in Leota, MN. After retiring from banking, he was able to relax and enjoy numerous hobbies. Joe and his wife, Millie, enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling together. Throw in a bunch of grandkids and great-grandkids and their joys quickly multiplied. Joe was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore at the time of his death. He was associated with the Knights of Columbus for over 65 years. A past post commander of the American Legion post No 42 in Edgerton he then transferred to the Legion post No 478 in Hardwick. Surviving Joseph are two sons, Edward (Mary) Clark of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Craig Clark (Carrie) of Kenneth, MN; two daughters Karen Clark (Jacquelyn) of Minneapolis, MN and Cindy Pratt (Allan Schroers) of Maple Grove; his sister, Lucille Walgrave of Luverne, MN., six grandchildren: Kim, Phillip, Craig Jr, Alexxis, Joshua, and Caleb and five great grandchildren: Edward, Michael, Benjamin, Elyssa, and Isabelle. He is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Millie, on October 18, 2002; oldest son Larry and second son Phillipp; plus his parents and brother Edsel. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Thursday, with a rosary service at 4 pm and parish prayers at 7:30 pm, at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne; visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am Friday at St. Anthony Catholic Church, in Lismore, officiated by Fr. Timothy Hall. Burial with full military honors provided by the Lismore American Legion Post #636 and the Hardwick American Legion Post #478 will be at the St. Anthony West Cemetery west of Lismore. Memorials will be directed to The Southwest Minnesota Honor Flight; and The Minnesota Lions Eye Bank. To view an online obituary or sign a virtual register book, please visit www.dingmannandsons.com.