On December 26, 1945, Gordon Harrison Clark became a late Christmas present for Durwood Harrison Clark and Ruth Adele (Auld) Clark of North Liberty, Indiana.  He passed away at St. Anthony’s Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after a 7-month struggle with cancer on January 15, 2024.

He enjoyed his ‘growing up years’ with friends in and around the North Liberty area and graduated from North Liberty High School as a member of the National Honor Society and president of the class of 1964.  He graduated from Purdue University in 1969 with degrees in Industrial Illustration and Industrial Supervision from Purdue’s School of Technology.

In 1969, Gordon started a career as a Systems Engineer at International Business Machines (IBM) at an office in Lafayette, Indiana. This life-long position allowed him to assist many small businesses, county and city governments, school systems, and banks in and around the North Central Indiana / Illinois area. He learned several programming languages and was able to guide these organizations in the design, implementation, and security of their IBM computer systems.  He retired from the only job he ever had after 32 years in December 2001.

After moving to West Lafayette, Gordon was delighted to have his sister, Lawane (Clark) Lord and her husband Gary later join him in the Lafayette area.  He is survived by his sister and her husband and their two children, Adam Lord and Joanna Lord (husband Alex Maggard and children Callum and Moira).

In the early 70s, hanging out with Purdue buddies, he was fortunate to meet and become close friends with Barbara Hauss, a Purdue student from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and later from Omaha, Nebraska.  They made the partnership permanent with a small wedding at Barbara’s parents’ home in Omaha on May 13, 1972.  Gordon is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara (Hauss) Clark of West Lafayette.

The union with Barbara produced two remarkable and accomplished children:  Jill Clark of Milton Massachusetts, employed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Brian Clark of West Lafayette, employed by the Purdue Research Foundation in West Lafayette. Their spouses are Sharese “Stevie” Caldwell (daughter Avery Caldwell) and Rachel (Bilyeu) Clark (daughter Emily Clark).

Gordon enjoyed giving back to his community.  He served as a board member and treasurer of Planned Parenthood of Lafayette, Indiana as well as a driver for Red Cross Transport, taking veterans and others to medical appointments.  He also delivered lunches for Joyful Journey Adult Day Service in West Lafayette.

Services will be held at Temple Israel, 620 Cumberland Avenue, West Lafayette on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 1pm, followed by a reception.  In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that you remember the good work of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, Hawai’i, Alaska, Indiana, and Kentucky at MS 313641, PO Box 3641, Seattle WA 98124-3641 or https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-great-northwest-hawaii-alaska-indiana-kentuck/get-involved/ways-give. You my leave condolences at www.soller-baker.com