Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home - Rick Clark 1949 - 2016

In Loving Memory of

Rick Clark

1949 - 2016

Services & Gatherings

Service:

Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 10:00am Celebration gathering that evening.
Life Church 9800 W. 135th St Overland Park KS, 66213

Visitation:

Saturday, December 17, 2016 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm Hilton Garden Inn
Olathe Hilton Garden Inn

Rick Clark, coach, teacher, avid hunter, accomplished athlete, and lively storyteller, died on December 1, 2016 at Olathe Medical Center from cancer.

Born April 8, 1949 in Cherokee, OK to Lloyd and Eva Lou Clark. He was raised with his siblings: Glenn Clark of Paola, Sherry Beck of Ottawa and Clark Lock of Chanute. Rick was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Linda Burch.

Growing up Rick was active in many sports, but established himself as quarterback extraordinaire while at Chanute High School, passing over 300 yards in games against Fort Scott and Parsons. He went on to play for Independence JuCo and then played two record breaking seasons at Pittsburg State University, which earned him an induction to the PSU Hall of Fame that he accepted humbly, giving full credit to his team. As one person said, "Rick was one of those guys that was good enough to be a jerk and get away with it, but you know what....he never was."

After earning a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and Master's degree in physical education, Rick went on to teach and coach for over 40 years, at high schools in Wellsville, Iola, Hiawatha, Great Bend, Spring Hill and Anderson County, where he impacted thousands of students in his classes and on the field. As a teacher he used patience and a great sense of humor to make math fun rather than intimidating. He was also a fantastic X's and O's football coach that molded mediocre talent into perennial contenders. He believed that no single individual is bigger than the team, and even though there is always someone bigger, faster, stronger, smarter and better looking than you; no one can work harder than you can.

Somehow between teaching, grading, coaching, scouting, and blowing his whistle he still found time for hunting, playing softball and even managed to snag a cute blonde gymnastics coach, Tami, to be his wife, while he was living in Great Bend. Tami was his camping partner, softball teammate, loudest fan and could get him to laugh like no one else.

Rick was a father figure to many, even if just for season, but his two children, Kortney, 41, and Zane, 19, were blessed to have him as their Dad year round. Coach Dad cheered on his son Zane from the bleachers, watching his All State performance on the field as an Offensive and Defensive Lineman for the Paola Panthers. They spent time together bickering like old men while fishing, watching sports and running a fireworks stand each summer; being not just father and son, but good friends as well.

If one ever wondered what Rick would look like as a girl, they could look at his daughter, Kortney. She grew up wearing a dress and a helmet in Hiawatha, following her dad everywhere he went. Rick coached her to State in high school track in Spring Hill and then became the best Grandpa to her four children.

Rick loved to talk about his grandchildren. Rick would visit Northern Michigan University where Kainon, 21, is a starting defensive lineman. Rick had a special connection with Miah, 15, that only the two of them understood, but the other children respected. Rick would always ask Trinity, 13, if she used all of her fouls at her basketball games. Zeph, 12, had Coach Grandpa help him with football, basketball and baseball.

Rick was respected by many for his honest, no nonsense approach to life and his solid work ethic. No one has done more with their God given talents. At Hiawatha, Rick posted messages on all the seniors’ lockers. One message was “To be a winner, you must be remembered as a winner.” Rick Clark will be remembered both on and off the field, as a winner.

Memorial Services will be held December 17th, 10:00am at Life Church Overland Park, KS. To commemorate his ability to tell a long winded story, there will be a Celebration of Life gathering Dec. 17th ,held at the Olathe Hilton Garden Inn from 2 to 5 PM.. Beer coolers and wildlife flannel shirts are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, Rick asked that you make a donation to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society, care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, to help find a cure to this garbage disease that kept him from taking that retirement trip to Alaska.

To share your memories of Rick or leave a special condolence message for his family, please click the Share Memories button above.

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Memories & Condolences

I coached with him in Cambria California, at Coast Union high School. 2005 gave me an opportunity to expand my coaching thought-process. I have always wondered about what we could have done for and with each other professionally. I knew he was going to Washington to coach, but there was no way that I was going to follow him there. My grandmother was dying of cancer at the same time we were coaching together, and she donated to our program. I always knew that coach Clark was a dynamic personality, and everybody has their ifs in life. He is a "man's man", and coached everybody to the best of his ability, including the military aspect of breaking down an individual to build them up to be their best. See what you want, but if your child does not play organized sports, and if they don't join the military, they will never understand society...

~ Charles Crosby - December 2, 2023

I remember him as a good coach and a good man… Iola High School

~ Jay Bass - August 25, 2023

I first met Rick after I began teaching and coaching at Louisburg in 1995, while he was at Spring Hill. His teams were always prepared when we would play football during my time coaching. We developed a friendship over our commonalities- we both played football at Pitt State, both were head football coaches, and shared a love for hunting pheasant over good working bird dogs. Rick invited me to assist him as one of his coaches in the Kansas-Missouri High School All Star football game in 1997. What an honor. I remember we would say that we needed to go hunting pheasant again sometime. It's his turn to drive. I'll look him up someday when we see each other again. He can take me to his favorite hunting spots! Many fond memories. God bless.

~ Kris Kehl - December 14, 2016

This may draw a few snickers from some of you, but when I was a kid playing under Coach Clark, he had a strict policy against using profanity on the field, practice or game. Violators were sent (or at least threatened under an evil eye) to run to the locker room and take a bite out of a bar of soap. At one game in particular, Coach let a very dirty word fly in the heat of a half time pep talk. You could have heard a pin drop in the locker room afterward. After we went on to win the game, we gathered again in the locker room, where Coach produced a bar of soap, and was about to take a big old bite out of it when several players and assistant coaches stepped in and stopped him. But he was going to do it. He was humbled and committed to carry out his own punishment on himself for violating his own rule. What a leader, what a coach, what a guy. He will be sorely missed. But I'm sure all of his humor, stories, memories, and motivations will be passed on for years and generations to come.

~ Charlie Reese - December 6, 2016

Family, I was sorry to learn of the recent death of Rick. I remember Rick Clark well. I was managing the Student Union Cafeteria at Independence JUCO when a good clean looking young man came in the front door. I immediately thought
he would be great to have in my area which he agreed when I approached him but his devotion to Coach Emmot was
very strong and his time did not allow him to work a shift for me. I continued to watch Rick and his football friend
Roy Baker through their years at JUCO. I remember fixing fried chicken dinners for some of the boys at my home
and Rick was one of the boys that frequently had dinner with us. I have continued keeping track of Rick especially
when he was in Hiawatha as we had folks there. You should be proud to call Rick your husband, father and grand-
father but most of all a friend. I was fortunate to hear from Roy Baker to inform me of his death. May God Bless
all of you with His continuing blessing of memories and love for Rick. Sincerely Kathryn Bowen

~ Kathryn and Jack Bowen - December 6, 2016

Family, I was sorry to learn of the recent death of Rick. I remember Rick Clark well. I was managing the Student Union Cafeteria at Independence JUCO when a good clean looking young man came in the front door. I immediately thought
he would be great to have in my area which he agreed when I approached him but his devotion to Coach Emmot was
very strong and his time did not allow him to work a shift for me. I continued to watch Rick and his football friend
Roy Baker through their years at JUCO. I remember fixing fried chicken dinners for some of the boys at my home
and Rick was one of the boys that frequently had dinner with us. I have continued keeping track of Rick especially
when he was in Hiawatha as we had folks there. You should be proud to call Rick your husband, father and grand-
father but most of all a friend. I was fortunate to hear from Roy Baker to inform me of his death. May God Bless
all of you with his continuing blessing of memories and love for Rick. Sincerely Kathryn Bowen

~ Kathryn and Jack Bowen - December 6, 2016

Sorry to hear of Rick's passing. I played football with him at Independence. He was a friend, I later connected with him when he was at Anderson County.
We had some good times. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I am sure he is up there telling the man it should be done this way!

~ Roy Baker - December 5, 2016

Jane and I were saddened to here of Rick's passing. If I remember correctly the first time I saw Rick Clark was the spring of my Sophmore year at Pitt State. Somebody told me Rick was probably going to be our Quarterback. I looked at him said you have to be kidding me. This skinny, weak looking guy is going to be our starting quarterback. After the first day of practice, and nobody could tackle him, I thought hey this guy is a player. I hated to practice against Rick because every time I tried to tackle Rick I would either miss him or get hurt. Rick Clark was the driving force behind our Championship Year of 1970. Every honor that Rick recieved was well deserving. I think about all the guys I played with the five seasons I was at Pitt State. There is one jersey number that stands out in my mind. #21 You will be missed!

~ Bob Homer - December 5, 2016

Rick was coaching his team against the comets semi state football at Chanute. I was working the chain gang. It was all rick could do durning the game not to put on a helmet and run out onto the field to play. When he saw me and realized it was me, he gave me a hug and a smile, then started yelling again for his team. Rick won that game. How do you explain a special moment with a good friend about 20 years of not seeing someone. We are sadden with his passing, yet he will not be forgotten

~ Thomas Cloke - December 3, 2016

Sorry to read of the passing of Rick. Send prayers for family during these datk days. Remember you know where he is waiting for you. When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be. God bless the family. R.I.Heaven Rick.

~ Beverly Gordon - December 3, 2016

I taught next to Rick at Hiawatha High School. I was also the cheerleader sponsor and attended most of the football games that Rick coached. I have many memories of the staff parties at his home - always a willing host! When I lived in that house years later, I always referred to it as the "Rick Clark house". Rick was a very caring teacher and coach, and I know there are many who will miss him!! My thoughts are with his family.

~ Carol Janke Boggs - December 2, 2016

Thanks for the good memories as a youth in Chanute. I will not forget hitchhiking to Topeka my junior year at KU. You were a Senior at Pitt State and your Gorillas thrashed the Washburn Ichabods. Always a leader and a true friend.
Gary Scooter Scott

~ Gary Scott - December 2, 2016

Coach Clark's family, Bud and I are so terribly sorry for your loss. Rick was a wonderful man and did so much good for the kids on and off the field. We will always remember the years of football while he coached David and Jason, He will surely be missed, but was greeted by loving arms of his mom and dad and Linda. the memories will always be with you and help to give you comfort. Debi

~ Debi Price - December 2, 2016