Joan H. Clarke

Joan Helen Clarke, age 92, passed away on June 26, 2022.  Born February 15, 1930 in Rockford, Illinois to Hugo and Jennie (Lundeen) Ekedahl, Joan caught the “acting bug” at the age of six, winning a regional Movie Doubles contest as the spitting image of Shirley Temple, complete with rag curls, turned up nose, and a precocious demeanor!
In her elementary school years, her parents moved Joan and her brother Bobby (the late Robert Ekedahl) to Bridgeport, Connecticut. Desperate to lose her East coast accent once the family returned to Illinois, Joan took elocution lessons which led to success on her high school oratory team, winning competition after competition.
Joan went on to pursue a degree in theatre at Northwestern University in Evanston IL, where she studied under the legendary “maker of stars” Alvina Krause. Joan’s classmates included Cloris Leachman, Robert Reed and William Daniels.  Alvina Krause recognized Joan’s talent and urged her to spend her summers performing at Krause’s prestigious summer theatre in Eagles Mere, PA, which drew professional scouts from “stage and screen.”  Joan was most definitely on a theatrical trajectory when fate stepped in. While working at the Nielsen Company in Chicago to pay for college, Joan met the love of her life, William Donald Clarke, who was also a student at Northwestern, majoring in electrical engineering. Bill Clarke swept her off her feet, off the stage, and off to his hometown, Canton Ohio.
Bill and Joan married in 1954.  Soon after, Joan secured a job at the Canton Repository, writing for the Society page. Joan was also very active in Junior League and as president of the Broadway League of Canton, she was instrumental in bringing Broadway productions to Canton, the proceeds from which supported cultural organizations such as Players Guild, Canton Symphony, Canton Civic Opera, and the Canton Art Institute.
Joan continued volunteering while raising four daughters and kept her passion for the theatre alive as one of the founders of Crate and Canvas Theatre, a summer theatre arts experience for the youth of Stark and surrounding counties. The vision and dedication of Joan and others in the Canton community launched successful theatrical arts careers of countless students.
Alongside Bill, Joan was also deeply committed to the service of others: Young Life, YWCA, the Red Cross Rape Crisis Center, Habitat for Humanity, to name just a few. Over the years, Joan enjoyed multiple cups of coffee and conversation at Butlers and Knights Restaurant; spent many quiet mornings with Bill at their home away from home, Forest Houses in Sedona, AZ; rafted down the Colorado; put up with Bill’s penchant for pet snakes; hosted many a Swedish smorgasbord for friends and family on Christmas Eve; and led a very full life.  Joan Helen Ekedahl Clarke will be remembered for her dry wit, her dramatic flair, her generous spirit, and all the lives she touched over her 92 years.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband William “Bill” Clarke and is survived by her four daughters: Sioux ‘Susan’ Finney (Bruce), Krista Clarke-Brownstein (Michael), Polly Clarke, Niffer ‘Jennifer’ Clarke (Jim Farrell); grandchildren: Jeff Henrickson (Ashley), John Ferguson, Stephen Finney, Becca Finney, Hannah Clarke Levine, great grandchild, Landry Henrickson and a host of “adopted” family. The family extends deep thanks to the staff at Altercare Country Lawn for their compassionate care in her final days.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 7 at 1 pm at Christ Presbyterian Church.  The family will receive friends following the service in Westminster Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the William D. and Joan Clarke Charitable Fund at Stark Community Foundation, 400 Market Ave N., Suite 200, Canton OH, 44702; Christ Presbyterian Church, 530 Tuscarawas St W., Canton OH, 44702, or a charity of your choice. Please sign the tribute page.

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