Theodore Arthur Clemens

Loving Husband, Father, Brother and Uncle Age 88 Of Vadnais Heights; formerly of St. Paul. Died November 7, 2010, in Minneapolis, of complications associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Survived by loving wife of 65 years, Peggy, of Vadnais Heights, MN; daughter Linda, Shoreview, MN; sister Rosemary Carol Brotzler of St. Paul; many nieces and nephews; and neighbors and friends. Born June 4, 1922, in Afton, MN. Predeceased by parents Arthur and Jessamine (Pansy) Clemens, brother Philip, sisters Doris Fryklund and Ruth Anderson, and aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ted grew up in Afton-describing himself as "a very lucky little boy" to have lived in Afton and near the St. Croix River-and graduated from Stillwater High School. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and completed cadets school. As part of the Eighth Army Air Force, 493rd Heavy Bomber Group, Ted was stationed at Debach Airfield, near Ipswich, England, piloting B-17s and B24s; he flew his first mission on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He returned to the US and he and Peggy married on February 26, 1945. Over several years, he achieved the rank of Captain and was a flight instructor and test pilot, stationed variously at air bases in Homestead, Fort Myers, Topeka, Charleston, Lake Charles, and El Paso. After returning to Minnesota, Ted was called back to active duty in 1951. Stationed in Okinawa, he piloted B29s during the Korean Conflict. Ted worked for the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press for 42 years-as a District Manager, Area Manager, Assistant Manager of Circulation, and Manager of the Single Copy Office. He relished his work-mentoring young paper carriers across the state, working with business owners, seeing and enjoying nearly every square inch of this state he loved, and meeting challenges. Ted also valued joining his work teams on annual fishing trips to Basswood Lake, awarded for their sales achievements. He loved boating, fishing, and picnicking on the St. Croix River with wife Peggy and daughter Linda. The three enjoyed many resort and camping vacations in the Moose Lake chain of lakes near Ely, and the Crane Lake chain of lakes near Orr. The family took car trips to both coasts and Florida; after retiring, Ted and Peggy enjoyed extended vacations in Florida and the Florida Keys, and in Arizona. He was an active member of Central Park Methodist Church in St. Paul until 1965, and then of St. Anthony Park United Methodist Church. Ted constantly volunteered to help family, neighbors, and friends. In addition, through the St. Paul Council of Camp Fire Girls, Ted did volunteer work at Camp Ojiketa and Camp Lokinda; he also served on the Council's Board of Directors. At the Veterans Administration Medical Center, for several years he visited with veterans who were anticipating or recovering from cardiovascular surgery, sharing his own experiences. Ted met this final illness with the same determination to overcome that helped him triumph over earlier health challenges. And he endured this last experience with grace. Peggy, Linda, his sister Carol, and all of his family are so grateful to the skilled and caring doctors, nurses, and therapists who supported Ted's efforts to recover from the injury to his lungs-especially those in SICU at the VA Medical Center, and at Regency Hospital in Minneapolis. We're also grateful to the dear friends who supported and helped us through Ted's illness. We had all anticipated a day when he would walk in and thank you himself. It was not to be. Ted walked, worked, helped, gardened, boated, laughed, and loved. We admire, love, and miss him. Funeral service 12:30 Friday at HOLCOMB-HENRY-BOOM-PURCELL, 515 Hwy 96 W. at Mackubin, Shoreview. Visitation Thursday 5-7 PM and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Interment Roselawn Cemetery followed by a reception at the funeral home. Memorials preferred.

Tributes

Theodore Arthur Clemens

June 4, 1922 - November 7, 2010

Tributes

Theodore Arthur Clemens

June 4, 1922 - November 7, 2010

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