- Date Of Birth: June 21, 1934
- Date Of Death: May 29, 2017
- State: Illinois
Clarence J. Willging was born June 21, 1934 in Dubuque, IA to Anna (Kregle) and George H. Willging.
He went to St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Loras Academy in 1953. He attended Loras College, graduating with a degree in teaching with emphasis on Mathematics and Science. Clarence taught one year at Loras Academy and two years at Bellview Iowa High School. In 1965, he then entered Mount Saint Bernard Seminary and was ordained to the Priesthood of Christ at St. Raphael’s Cathedral in Dubuque, IA. Clarence served as a priest in Iowa at Dubuque, New Hampton, Cedar Rapids and Ames until 1970. He then chose to leave the priesthood to marry Barbara Wade. He and Barbara moved to Dakota IL where both taught in Dakota School.
In 1974 he married Marsalla Hurley and they moved to Freeport, IL. After his teaching career he built houses which he contracted or built on speculation. He retired in 1985. Clarence put all his energy into whatever he was involved in. When Clarence was 12 he began to play chess at the Dubuque Boys Club. He played 100’s of postal chess matches. In 1956 he was one of over 100 young men who played chess with Samuel Reskeusky, a champion of US and the Western World. The Dubuque paper said only two young players gave him a challenge and one was Clarence Willging.He became interested in Bridge and in 1992 started playing Duplicate Bridge. At last count he was a Gold Life Master and had accumulated over 3,000 points. He started playing racquetball after he retired and became an excellent racquetball player. He spent hours at our local YMCA.
Clarence is survived by one daughter: Shannon Wade of Portland, OR; two brothers George (Francise) Willging of Dubuque, IA; Thomas (Pat) Willging of Freeport, IL; Sister-in-Law Joy Willging of St. Joseph, MI. Along with numerous nieces; nephews and several great nieces and nephews.
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