Donald Clements

Donald Wallace Clements, one of five children of Blanche (Wallace) and John Clements, was born on December 7, 1924 on the family farm near Wisner, Nebraska. The family moved to another farm near Martinsberg, Nebraska in 1936 and again in 1938 to Emerson, Nebraska. Don graduated from Emerson High School in 1941.
On July 31, 1943, Don was inducted into the United States Marine Corps. While with the First Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, Don participated in the assault and capture of Saipan, the Marianas Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Volcano Islands and Iwo Jima.
Following his discharge from the U.S. Marines on November 23, 1945, Thanksgivings Day, he returned to Emerson. Don married Ruth Ellen Swanberg (high school sweethearts) on February 10, 1946. They established their first home in Omaha where Don studied electrical engineering and Ruth worked as an office manager for an insurance company. Don accepted a position as communications troubleshooter for the Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He and Ruth moved to Aurora, Illinois from where they traveled thirteen states for his work. In 1952, they returned to Omaha where Don accepted a promotion to supervise the Omaha Division. That same year, Don and Ruth were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Karen and in 1960 with the birth of their son, Brad. The family moved to Glenwood, Iowa in 1964. They became members of the Grace United Methodist Church and Don served on boards as needed. He was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Don and Ruth enjoyed traveling with their family and each summer enjoyed vacations to the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming or fishing trips to Minnesota. Don also enjoyed hunting. In 1985, he retired from the railroad. Don and Ruth maintained their home in Glenwood and purchased a home in Harlingen, Texas where they enjoyed the winter months and new friendships. On February 1, 2004, they sold their home in Texas and returned to Glenwood.
Don and Ruth had been married for nearly 58 years when Ruth died suddenly at their Glenwood home on February 7, 2004. Don continued to live at their home until 2007, when he moved to the Linnwood Estates in Glenwood. He died at Linnwood on June 3, 2007 at the age of 82 years, 5 months, and 27 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ruth; sisters Maxine Eddington, Maybelle Summers, and Doris Warden
Don is survived by his children Karen Hamilton of Milwaukee, WI and Brad Clements and his wife Sarah of Granby, CO; grandchildren Robert Doxey of Milton, WI and Beth Owens of Beloit, WI; and great grandchildren Dylan Doxey and Ariana Topel also of Beloit; brother Bill Clements and wife Barbara from Emerson, NE; brother-in-law Earl Warden of Berwyn, Il; other relatives and friends.