Anna Clark

Obituary for
Anna Louise Clark (Boley)

Anna Louise Boley Clark

Louise Clark passed away peacefully at her home in Provo, Utah on April 12, 2016. The world has lost a shining example of unconditional love, relentless courage, and grace in the face of adversity.

Louise was born in Ferron, Utah and grew up in American Fork, but spent most of her life in Madison, Wisconsin. With her husband David she had the opportunity to live in several wonderful cities, including: New York City; Iowa City, Iowa; Dallas, Texas; Provo, Utah; Bonn, Germany; and Santa Rosa, California.

Louise was happiest when surrounded by children. She was a devoted mother to her four children in spite of her many physical challenges. Her 16 grandchildren found Grandma’s lap a perfect place for reading books, doing puzzles or negotiating for home-made cookies. More recently, during her hardest times, her natural love for children shone brightly when one of her 5 great-granddaughters was around. As an active member of the LDS church, a highlight of her life was the opportunity to arrange and place babies for adoption with LDS Social Services. She was selected as Wisconsin’s Mother of the Year in 1997.

Whenever she was able, she would use her life experience to help others. This included teaching parenting classes, leading support groups for those with auto-immune diseases and teaching medical students at the University of Wisconsin about living with rheumatoid arthritis.

Her passion for learning manifested itself through her writing, her love of languages, painting and voracious reading. She passed these gifts on to many of her posterity.

People were always drawn to her wise and loving nature. She was frequently found dispensing advice to others from hospital beds and counseling friends through difficulties in spite of her own ever-present pain. She was a mentor and beloved friend to all who crossed her path.

Louise is survived by her husband David, son Steven Clark (Kerstin), daughter Julee Kowallis (Bart), daughter Linda Lowe (Tom), daughter-in-law Karen Clark; 16 grandchildren, 6 great-granddaughters, 2 brothers, Mike and Harry Boley and one sister, Colleen Hunt. She is now joyfully reunited with her son Douglas and her parents where undoubtedly she is bursting into song at every opportunity.

She will be buried in a private family ceremony on April 19, 2016 in the American Fork Cemetery. Louise’s family is so very grateful and appreciative of the expressions of love and support. Donations to the Arthritis Foundation would be a fitting tribute.