I was devastated to hear about Joe's death. He was so kind to me just like a father. He was so fun to be with, so caring about his family and even to me who was 'just' an exchange student.He made me feel like a member of this great family that I love with all my heart.Good Bye my American Dad.

Dear Diana & James,
So sorry to hear of your lost.
Time comes and goes so fast. But we remember the good times we all had in Delavan.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.
Ray And Gloria Skillestad

Remember the house on Third Street
Remember the fun we had-
James and Tara went to Kindergarden;
You, me and Joe were sad!
Remember ""Wild Life Scarey Park"" and sleeping in the caboose;
The next day we would walk the park and see the animals loose!
Remember the ""Homes for the Holiday Tour"" when Joe was the Ghost of Christmas Future?
He maintained his balance on those metal stilts;
Who was the wise-guy who had them built?
A man of charm, a man of wit, a basketball to keep him fit!
We will miss him, Diana dear, but in our hearts he is always near.

Diana,
  Thoughts & prayers are with you & family.  Let me know if anything we can do to help.
Barry Gustafson & staff

Diana,
I remember when I first met Joe in 1984 when you and Joe came to Minneapolis to bring the baby bed for Lindsay.  It was so great to see the two of you falling in love and staying that way all through the years.
It takes God's grace, a ton of courage, plenty of prayers, a world of friends and a heart full of faith to go forward in life and to face the future undismayed.  I am praying for you.
Love,
Becky Webb Wilson

Our prayers are with you during this time.

Dear Diana,
Our continued prayers for you, James and the rest of the family as each day passes. I am glad we were apart of one another lives even if just for a time.....many memories of dinners, laughters and basketball!! I think of you often and pray for your daily strength! 
Chris Cusic

Diana and Family, 
   We are so sorry to hear that Joe is no longer with us.  I was only priveleged to get to know him the last several years, since he had been making his visits to WV.  I will miss that very much.  The thing I will remember the most is that he came for my Dad's funeral in 1991 and sang at the funeral for me.  He was and is the most magnificient voice I have ever heard. I'm sorry I never got to know the children and you that well and feel that our tie has been broken.  I hate to think that is so.  I've left a couple of voice messages on Joe's cell phone recently, if you happen to have access and check it.  It is the only contact no. I had. One was not long after he had to cancel his last trip here.  I was thinking about him a lot and called but just left a brief message that it was me. I did not know that he was as bad as this. He never said much when he was here and I have little contact with the cousins. I'm sorry I did not pursue trying to contact him. I will always remember and miss him.  Much love to Joe, you and family.
Thelma and Gene

Hi Diane & children,
   We just read the wonderful memorials about Joe & wanted to add ours.  Joe always did have a smile and could cheer you up.  He always had time for his children no matter what project he was into. Joe was so talented in so many areas--we knew he could remodel or build houses or sell cars, etc, but we couldn't believe it when he sang a beautiful solo at Jenny & Bill's wedding.  There was nothing he couldn't do. We were very sad when you moved as you both were such hard workers & contributed so much to Delavan, but we are happy you got to enjoy beautiful Colorado for several years.
 May all your wonderful memories comfort you all through the coming weeks, months, and years.

Our hearts are extended to all of you during this painful time.  Joe was a kindhearted, loving and caring man.  He was always smiling.
May the Good Lord keep you and bless you always.  We love you and you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim and Leann

What a shock it was to open the Satanta Chief tonight and see Joe's obituary.  I knew he had been fighting cancer for quite sometime, but I hadn't heard that he had got bad since I saw him last Satanta Day.  My heartfelt blessings to all of Joe's family.  He was a tall, handsome upper classman to me, but when I met up with him and Diana in Satanta a few years back, he hadn't changed one single bit.  He was still such a wonderful gentleman and even though we hadn't seen each other for years, he found out I was living off and on in Estes Park, CO and he invited me to stop by and visit him and Diana.  Not too long after that, I moved back to Kansas and only saw him on Satanta Days, but he always told me IF I came back to Estes to be sure and look them up.  SUCH A NICE GUY... The tears that are falling down my cheek as I write this are a sad tribute to a wonderful guy.  We will all miss you at Satanta Day this year.  My sincere sympathy to all of the family.

We just wanted you to know how sorry we were to hear about Joe's passing.  He was always so friendly to everyone and just a nice guy.  
Alan, Judy and Jake Huggenberger

JOE AND I WERE CLASSMATES AT SATANTA, KS.  WE REALLY HAD A BALL AT OUR CLASS REUNIONS (THE LAST ONE WAS LAST MAY).  WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN HIM AND ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF LAUGHTER AND GOOD TIMES. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.  JOE, WE KNOW YOU ARE IN JESUS' ARMS. BLESS YOU FOR THE STRENGTH YOU HAD, WE KNOW YOU ARE AT PEACE. DIANE AND JAMES, MAY GOD GIVE YOU STRENGTH EACH DAY AND BLESS YOU WITH GREAT MEMORIES.

Dear Diana and Family, 
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I was blessed to know Joe. He had such a wonderful spirit and kind heart. He would brighten my day just seeing his smiling face. We will miss him very much. 
God Bless
Dave and Jan Wacker

Classmates of Joe.  We have many memories from our High School days, they were a lot of fun.  Joe was always fun to be around.  We will miss him at our class reunions.  
We are praying the Lord will give Diana and family peace and comfort during this time.
Tom and Bev Long

Diana and family, 
Please accept our sincere condolances. Joe always had a smile on his face and put a smile on everyone elses.  Our prayers are with you in your time of loss.
Wayne & Lynn Irons (Taylor) & Family

May beauty live on in your memories and bring you peace. With Deepest Sympathy

Joe was a wondeful guy, I spent many of night w/ Jenn and rememeber Joe always telling jokes and being the goofy guy he was. Always had a smile on his face, would make anyone happy!!! His family is in our thoughts and our prayers.
Renee, Albany & Eric

We will miss Joe and his constant zest for life. With deepiest sympothies,  Eric & Emily

Sorry to hear of your loss.  We are thinking of you.

Wanted to let Joey and family know our thoughts and prays are with you. I remember Joe always being at all the activites that Joey was in when we were in school. He was a very supporting parent. I know Joe had alot to be proud of when it came to Joey. I know Joe knew this, but Joey was a chip off the old block. He always thinks of others first. Because at our 25th class reunion Joey wrote a book and gave each one of us a copy. Thinking of you at this time.

We will always remember Joe's great sense of humor.  He was fun to be with and to talk basketball with.  We will miss him.

Dearest Diana and family,
Please accept my sincere condolances. I am so blessed that I got to know Joe and have many fond memories of visiting and seeing you all over the years.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.  May God give you strength, peace, grace and love to help you along this journey.  Joe was a wonderful person.  I will always remember his loving and passionate personality. He had the kindest heart.  Always giving and sharing of himself to others. I will miss him greatly.
To Diana~ my love is sent from my heart to yours.  I am so sorry.  
Amanda Dohman (Mandy Sides)

My heart breaks for all of you. I wanted to express what your family has meant to ours.  Joe was a great friend and co-heart of the basketball world to Mark.  There were many days when the phone would not stop ringing with Joe want to to know if Mark was home yet so they could play.  It was like Diana and I had a couple kids who couldn't wait for the other to be done with dinner so they could finish the game from the night before.  Then open gym season would come along and soon James and Kiley were taging along so they could run and play with Jordan and the other boys while the dads played their game.  Those were the days... the days in a time of our lives we will never forget.  The days I never would have thought I would miss like I have.  There will always be that special place in our hearts for the Clem family.  We will always be here for you.
Mark, Sandy, Kiley & Kalib Kincaid

My heart goes out to you all in the loss of your dear one.  As I read the article, I realized how much people stay the same.  I am Joe's cousin.(Daughter of his Uncle Jim who is still living in West Virginia) When I grew up in WV, Joe came for visits with his parents in the summer, and that was truly a highlight for us. I remember his visits so well, and I could relate with all the wonderful comments...His passion for life impressed me, and I was 13 the last time I saw him. (He was 16)... May God bless you all in your days of grief, and remember that you are blessed to have had Joe in your lives.
Julie Scott
Fayetteville, NC

Diana and family:  Thank you for allowing me into your home and essentially becoming part of the ""Clem Clan"".  If it's in writing, as it is in Joe's journal, it must be true.  I'm in there!!  I looked forward to my visits with Mr. ""C"" and already, feel his loss.  But what we once enjoyed and cared for we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.  Diana, he adored you and the ""easy"" life you shared.  You were his rock.  And if he didn't get the chance in the past several weeks to say it or show it, I know he would kiss you, snuggle you and thank you.   He was proud of his family and I can't tell you how moving it was to hear Joe holler ""I love you"" to James as he headed out the door.  May the memories of Joe live in your hearts always, as they will in mine.  A tree has been planted in the Rocky Mt. National Park in Joe's name.  Hugs, Jody

Diana and Family,
We are thinking of all of you and send our love, thoughts, and prayers during this very sad and difficult time. I am always here for you, Diana. With our love and heartfelt sympathy, Billie, Richard & Family

Joe and Dale graduated high school together in 1961.  Joe was a leader and a great guy.  He will be missed my all of us.  Please accept our condelances.
Dale and Sue Stephens

Growing up in the small town of Delavan, IL I got to know Joe through his son Jerod.  Every time that I saw Joe he had the biggest smile on his face was always so full of life.  His spirit radiated a glow of warmth and compassion.  I remember Joe helping me out with purchasing my first car when I was out of college and he was really passionate about making sure that I was treaded right and we always talked about the car business and of course basketball.  Joe was one of a kind!!  My sincerest condolences, sympathy, thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family.   Larry Carlton

Joe was a great guy, he was always very supportive of everything James and his other sons and daughters did, but what I remember is his humor and genuine personality that was always so kind to me and all of James's other friends. My family and I are there for the Clem's.

What a beautifully written tribute to Joe. He will be greatly missed. Many of my childhood memories include Joe and his family.
Our prayers are with all of you. Becky

Just wanted to say that our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.  We are so sorry.
Love, Brad, Kim, Jake & Josh Kilcullen

Please accept our sincerest condolences,
Mary Slater, Kim Kilcullen, Kristen Bernas, Paul and Dorothy Stott

OBITUARY

Joseph Phillip Clem

21 November, 1943 – 27 March, 2007

Allnutt Funeral & Cremation - Macy

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