Marie J. Clark

Marie Joan Clark, gifted music teacher, church organist, loving mother and grandmother and friend to many, passed away at age 85 in Denver, Colorado on December 30, 2019 of respiratory failure.

Marie was born on December 16, 1934 in Davis, South Dakota, the first child to Rev. Theodore and Mildred Mansen. Marie was raised Presbyterian and discovered her love of music in church. She started playing the piano very young winning contests competitively. She received a scholarship to the University of Dubuque in Iowa where she studied Christian Education and minored in music. After graduating, her first job was as an associate pastor for youth studies and music at the Cottage Grove Ave Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

Marie then went on to study at San Francisco Theological Seminary where she worked towards her masters in Church Music which included organ and choral direction studies. There she met her first husband John Henry Baker Jr (deceased). They were married in 1960 and had three children, John, Nani, and Roger. Marie taught piano and voice lessons at various schools and privately. She also played the church organ and was a music director for various congregations in Honolulu, Hawaii and in Aurora, Colorado. Some of Marie's students went on to professional careers in music and theater.

Marie remarried in 1990 to Stuart Clark (deceased) of Aurora Colorado who she met square dancing. They were happily married for a few years. After Stuart passed, she continued dancing and met Benjamin Van Deest (deceased). They were engaged to be married. A favorite past time, Marie continued square dancing up until the time of her passing even appearing on the Denver news.

She is survived by her three younger siblings Jim Mansen (Phoenix, AZ), Ruth Maedge (Lena, IL), and Dave Mansen (Sacramento, CA); her three children, John David Baker (Pasadena, CA), Nani Baker (Urbana, IL), Roger Baker (Aurora, CO); her five grandchildren William Baker (Boston, MA), Malia Baker (Urbana, IL), Paris and Lacey Baker (Aurora, CO), Zachary Gorman (Lakewood, CO), one great grandchild, Aiden Gorman (Lakewood, CO); her four nieces and nephews Bill Martin (Nashville, TN), Ehren Maedge (Sacramento, CA), Rebecca Hayden (Lake Oswego, OR), Jimmy Mansen (Palm Desert, CA).

A loving and supportive daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and caring friend to many in the community, she enjoyed her family, her grandchildren, friends, her church, her arts and crafts, her garden, square dancing evenings and most of all music. A gifted teacher and musician, she awakened the beauty of music and the joy of creative expression in so many of her students, fellow parishioners and family. There was always a song in her heart, music in her home, a funny story to tell and chocolate chip cookies in her freezer.

A Funeral service will be held at Parkview Congregational Church in Aurora (12444 E. Parkview Drive, Aurora, CO, ph (303) 366-5224) on January 18, 2020 at 2pm. If preferred, memorial contributions in lieu of flowers are welcome at Parkview Congregational Church or at Colorado Public Radio (cpr.org) (303) 871-9191.

Funeral Service: January 18, 2020 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Parkview Congregational Church
12444 Parkview Drive
Aurora, CO 80011
(303) 366-5224