Clemens Fowler

Clemens “Clem” LeRoy Fowler, 86, Bismarck, passed away Sept. 8, 2017, at Good Samaritan (Augusta Place) Nursing Home.A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N 4th Street, Bismarck, with Pastor Paul Schick officiating.Visitation will be held from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Friday, September 15, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck.Clem was born in his paternal grandparents’ home near Stanton, ND, to Leslie “Doc” G. and Celia B. (Whittier) Fowler on July 11, 1931. He attended school near Stanton until the family moved to Bismarck where he attended Bismarck High School. On the day he turned 17 he joined the Navy and had basic training at the Great Lakes IL Training Center. He was assigned to USS Soley (DD707) for five years, attaining the rate of Boiler Technician First Class, and served in combat in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a service-disabled veteran in 1953.Following his Navy Service, Clem worked for the US Bureau of Reclamation in California, attended Hanson Auto Mechanic Trade School in Fargo and became a Senior Auto Mechanic for Ford Motor Company in Bismarck. He worked for 30 years as a US Postal Service Mail Acceptance Manager.Clem and Arlys (Frank) were married in St Luke’s Lutheran Church in Wishek on December 26, 1955, and enjoyed nearly 62 years of loving marriage. Following their time in California, they made their home in Bismarck and became active members of Trinity Lutheran Church.Clem was a lifelong outdoorsman enjoying camping, fishing, hunting, hiking and water skiing. He liked working in the yard and fixing his and his friends’ cars and equipment. He was a proud Navy veteran, flying his American flag outside his home, being a Director of the Board on the North Dakota Navy League, and supporting the USS North Dakota (SSN 784).  He enjoyed traveling, taking his young family on trips to the East Coast and South, attending all of his children’s and grandchildren’s special events, and taking Arlys on adventures with cruises at sea and trips to Italy, California, Hawaii, and around the United States.Clem is survived by his wife Arlys; their children, Jeff (Katie), Haymarket, VA, Cynthy (Brad) Winther, Mission Viejo, CA, Kolin (Misty), Ladera Ranch, CA, Mike, Aliso Viejo, CA; his grandchildren, Brittany (Joe), Lynsee, Connor, Austin, Ashley, Corina, Nicole, and Jacob; his great-granddaughter, Elliana; brother-in-law, Elmer (Mary Ann) Frank; three sisters-in-law, Shirley (Lloyd) Weisenburger, Eunice Harter, and Euny Fowler; and many nieces and nephews.Clem was preceded in death by his brother, Leslie “Bud” Fowler; sisters, Hazel Bradley and Vernie Schoepp; his parents; and his brothers-in-law, Bob Harter and Arnie Schoepp. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the “NAVY LEAGUE NORTH DAKOTA COUNCIL in Memory of Clem Fowler”, (who was a charter member). Please send your checks to Navy League c/o Bob Wefald, 312 W Ave B, Bismarck ND 58501. This donation will go toward the North Dakota Navy League’s sponsorship of USS NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784).