Joseph "Fred" Clark

Joseph “Fred” Clark, of High Ridge, Missouri, was born September 18, 1942 in Rowland, North Carolina to Joseph H. and Anna (nee Dial) Clark and entered into rest Friday, March 29, 2024 in Fenton, Missouri at the age of 81 years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph H. and Anna (nee Dial) Clark; siblings, Gwendolyn Graham, James W. Clark, Earl C. Clark, Aubrey Clark, Kenneth Clark. He is survived by his loving wife, Sue (nee Geiss) Clark; son, Tim (Colleen) Clark; grandchildren, Shannon E. Clark, Nicole C. Clark, and Max T. Clark; sister, Audrey Yarbrough; along with numerous other extended family and friends. Joe came from very humble beginnings in Pembroke, NC, a member of the Lumbee Indian Tribe of Robeson County. In 1955, his family moved to Detroit so his father could work for the Chrysler Corporation. He only had a 10th grade education and was working in a butcher shop when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1964. While stationed in Berlin, Germany, he met Susanne Geiss, married her, and had a son, Tim, ultimately returning to the U.S. with a family in 1967. Joe was a Staff Sargent by the end of his 4-year enlistment. In 1968, he moved his family to St. Louis and started working for the Chrysler Corporation and joined his father as an Assembly line operator. Over the years he was promoted to management, becoming a Receiving Inspection Manager and Supplier Quality Manager during his tenure. Joe took an early retirement package in 1990 and started his own business, Lumbee Enterprises, Inc., a service provider for both of the St. Louis Chrysler plants in Fenton, MO. Over the next 18 years, he saw his company grow to hundreds of employees with additional locations in Windsor, Detroit, Greenville, and Dublin, VA. Joe was very proud to honor his Lumbee heritage as a true pioneer in the businesses of quality inspections, supplier representation, and high-volume finished vehicle repairs. Along with his son Tim, Joe sold some of their out of state businesses in the 2000s and sold their last location in 2009 when the Chrysler plants in St. Louis halted production. Joe was known for his tough, old-school style of management but was also very loyal, approachable, and generous to those who worked for him, his family and friends, and, on several occasions—complete strangers. His accomplishments after the age of 50 were truly remarkable and he was a great symbol of the American Dream. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6300 Highway 30, Cedar Hill, MO 63016. Funeral Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Chapel Hill Mortuary in Cedar Hill, MO. Interment will immediately follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Cedar Hill, MO. Family and friends can review and share stories, photos and condolences online at www.stlfuneral.com and follow details of this event and others in the community at www.facebook.com/stlchapelhill.

Joseph "Fred" Clark

September 18, 1942 - March 29, 2024