In Remembrance

Clarence E. Odegard, age 96 of Port Wing, WI, passed away peacefully in the presence of loved ones on Wednesday, September 19, 2019, in Superior WI.

Clarence was born on August 25, 1923 in Mondovi, WI – The son of Elwin and Sena (Skildum) Odegard. He was a graduate of Mondovi High School and at the age of 19 graduated from Gunnery School in Harlingen, TX.

He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 – 1945. He served our country in WWII as a Tail Gunner on the B-17, “Old 428”, Touchy Goose. On Feb 25, 1944, Touchy Goose was shot down while on mission over Austria. Clarence was taken Prisoner Of War (POW) and was shipped to Konigsberg, Swinemude and then to the prison camp Stalig Luft IV. He was Liberated April 26, 1945 and Discharged September 22, 1945.

On December 18, 1949, he was united in marriage to Joyce P. Gleason in Buxton, North Dakota.

He worked building grain elevators across the Great Plains, worked in the oil fields, and was a Master Carpenter building residential houses and garages. He also was a Lead Forman on the Milwaukee Aquarium project. He enjoyed hunting, traveling out west and snow birding to Arizona. He also enjoyed a cold one with great conversations and drinks at many of his favorite establishments.

Survivors include three sons, Clark of Mondovi, WI, Clinton (Elly) of Mondovi, WI, Odin (Heather) of Port Wing, WI; five daughters, JoAnn Odegard of Darien, WI, Jacqulen (Alan) Klein, Jody (Duane) Saari of Halliday, ND, Jolene (Terry) Alme of Post Falls, ID, Alice Saari of Maple, WI; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; two sister-in-laws, Polly and Ethel Odegard.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Joyce Odegard; four brothers, Sanford, Elwood, Alan and Maurice Odegard; three sisters, Selena Olson, Evelyn Anderson, and Carol Toebe.

He will be sadly missed by his special friends: Montana Bob, Bucky and Richard.