Clarence R. Colclasure

Clarence Ray Colclasure, 87, of Rockford, died peacefully with his devoted wife at his side at home Saturday, May 18, 2024, from multiple heart problems. Born on a farm outside Heyworth, IL, September 15, 1936, the first of four Colclasure children born to Raymond Estes Colclasure and Mary Elsie Bartels Colclasure. He worked to make his own way: delivering newspapers, cleaning two barbershops in Heyworth, delivering and repossessing furniture, including a piano, bailing hay, painting oil tanks, passing out towels and collecting football uniforms in locker rooms at Illinois State University (and studying during practice), opening up in the wee hours a dairy in Normal, IL, to accept milk deliveries before going to classes, working at Caterpillar Tractor to pay for college, later teaching summer school, working Friday night recreation programs at Jefferson Jr. High, and more.  

He graduated from Heyworth High School (1955). According to Local Legends: A Photographic History of McLean County Sports 1884-1969, Clancy “was the first player in Heyworth basketball history to score more than 400 points in one season (407). He also led the team in field goal and free throw percentages, hitting 53% and 73%, respectively.” (p. 117) He also graduated from Illinois State University (1960), majoring in math and business administration; and from the University of Illinois (1962), earning a Master’s Degree in Education, plus 40 additional graduate credit hours including hours earned during the summers of 1966 and 1967 at the University of Northern Iowa while participating in a National Science Foundation program for high school math teachers.

He served 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a medical specialist, training at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Sam Houston. Weekly Reserve meetings where he served as company clerk, monthly weekend full-day training sessions, and yearly two-week summer camps at various military posts completed his military obligation in Dec. 1965 with the rank of SP5 (E5).

He taught 7th grade, coached the 7th grade basketball team, and drove a school bus in Braidwood, IL, for 1 year, then taught mathematics for 32 years and served as Math Department Head at Jefferson Jr. High and Jefferson Sr. High School in Rockford. His math students thought highly of him, and he was a respected faculty member at Jefferson, honored as Most Professional Teacher (1981). Member of the REA, IEA, and NEA, and an inactive Teamster. His empathy for struggling students marked his teaching. He will be remembered as a kind and gentle soul.

He married Alma Gross at Eureka Christian Church, Eureka, IL, on Aug. 4, 1962, the day actress Marilyn Monroe died. Our enduring story was that she died due to abject despair at having lost out on him! He chased me until I caught him, and Marilyn could not stand the disappointment. He was the epitome of patience and lack of complaint, qualities underpinning almost 62 years of happiness in marriage. Clarence was known by friends and family as "Alma's angel," steadfastly supporting her through the minor and major challenges that life presented.

He kept smiling through decades of pain and medical challenges. He was patient #80 at the proton center in Warrenville, IL, in 2011, just after it opened. To the end he appreciated everything done to give him comfort and enjoyment, expressing thanks 16 times on one typical day. When we said, “I love you more,” the lyrics to “More” came to mind. And how much more? Six. Our “I love you more” routine came from a story from a friend putting her son to bed. She had said, “I love you” to which he responded, “I love you too.” He had been learning to count, so she came back with “I love you 3!” and he picked up on the joke and answered, “I love you 4!” They laughed, and she said, “But I love you… 5!” Then he reached for the largest number he knew and with a gleeful smile declared, “I love YOU… 6!” There can’t be more love than that.

He enjoyed trips with his wife to Russia, Italy, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska, as well as meandering travels to and around the West and East Coasts and places in between as well as visits to friends and family in Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, and New Mexico. Especially enjoyed time with friends at the warm pool at the Millennium Center.

Survived by wife, Alma Colclasure; sister, Doris (Steve) Fincham (Towanda, IL); and half-brothers, Robert (Fern) Walden (Bloomington, IL) and Richard (Faith) Walden (Hazelwood, MO). Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Nancy Davis (Potosi, MO) and Kathryn Rubey (Rockford, IL) as well as numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. Predeceased by parents; brother, William (Wanda) Colclasure; sister, Donna (Ronald) Fannin; step-father, William Frank Walden; nephew, Brian Colclasure and great-nephew, Jeremy Fannin.

Honoring his wishes, no services are planned. Instead be kind to someone daily.  Burial of his cremains will be at DeWolf Cemetery outside Dixon, IL, at a later date. 

“Death is not the end. Death can never be the end. Death is the road. Life is the traveler. The soul is the guide. When the traveler is tired and exhausted, the guide instructs the traveler to take either a short or a long rest, and then the traveler's journey begins again.” –Sri Shinmoy

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clarence R. Colclasure, please visit our floral store.