Francis Dean Clarkson, age 73, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, died peacefully on November 27, 2021 at Regional West Medical Center after a short fight with pancreatic cancer. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, November 29, 2021 at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 PM on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Scottsbluff with Father Rayappa Konka officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel facebook page. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff with military honors rendered by the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to a charity of the donor’s choice in the name of Francis Dean Clarkson. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dugankramer.com for the Clarkson family.
Francis was born August 18, 1948, in Wayne, Nebraska, to James and Bernadine (Reicks) Clarkson. He was the sixth of seven children. He grew up in Concord, Nebraska, and attended grade school and high school at Laurel/Concord Schools. In 1968, he enlisted in the military and served in Vietnam until 1970.
On October 10, 1970, he was united in marriage to Kathy Wolske. They had three sons: Jeffrey, David, and Andrew. Francis worked repairing office equipment in Fremont and then Norfolk, where he attended Northeast Nebraska Community College and obtained a degree in business. In 1982, they moved to Scottsbluff, purchased an office supply and equipment business, renamed it to Broadway Office Supply, and operated it for 25 years. While in business and after they sold the business, he also pursued his passion of construction, building over 20 houses through the years.
At age 61, Francis obtained his private pilot’s license which he and Kathy used to fly back and forth to their summer cabin in Minnesota. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, family, friends, and grandchildren. He was a very caring person, and he loved to laugh and joke around.
Survivors include: his wife, Kathy; three sons and their wives, Jeffrey and Megan of Gilbert, AZ; David and Michelle of Mesa, AZ; and Andrew and Kerstin of Estes Park, CO; one sister, Sylvia Evert of Fremont; four brothers and their wives, Keith and Doris of Laurel; LeRoy and Sally of Neligh; Leonard and Carol of Creighton; and Bob and Deb of Concord; and six grandchildren, Rachel, Nathan, Zachery, Aaron, Kyson, and Mason.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, LaVerne; and one sister-in-law, Joyce.
