Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke LCDR USN (retired), 88 of Centennial, CO died January 26, 2017 surrounded by his family. Michael ""Mike"" Clarke was born June 24, 1928 to Edward Clarke and Tessie O'Donnel in Chicago, IL. He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Catherine Barbara James; his three daughters and their spouses: Katherine and Bruce Wheeler; Mary Therese and Joe Dixon, Patricia and Matt Bean and three grandchildren: Ellen and Greg Wheeler and Leo Dixon. Loving husband, devoted father and faithful friend. Kind and hospitable, he was always quick to help and to laugh - ""everyone liked Mike"". He had a distinguished Navy career, beginning in 1948 as a member of the Flying Midshipman Program, Class 10-48. He received his flight training at Pensacola, FL where he later served as an instructor, transitioning pilots from fixed winged aircraft to jets. He received his Bachelor of Science from the Naval Science School, Monterey, CA. He was a pilot in three squadrons, served as CIC officer and Air Controller on USS HANCOCK, served as Air Operations Officer on the staff of Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 11 and retired from the Navy in 1969. A modest and humble man, many don't know that he was qualified in 19 different aircraft, held the title ""top jock' in 6 different aircraft types and was one of the Navy pilots selected to fly in the movie Tora, Tora, Tora. After retiring from the Navy, he moved with his family to Denver to work as a private pilot. He received his MBA from University of Colorado at Denver in 1980. He worked for the City and County of Denver and the State of Colorado as a safety professional for twenty years. He was an active member of the American Association of Safety Engineers, a past president and board member. An avid traveler, he was always eager for a road trip, loved history and airplanes. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family. The family will receive friends from 12-1 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8035 South Quebec Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112. A Funeral Mass will follow at 1 p.m. Internment will take place at Ft. Logan National Cemetery at 10 a.m. Friday, February 3, 2017. Memorial Donations are suggested to the Porter Hospice Foundation at 2525 South Downing Street, Mason Hall, 2nd Floor, Denver, Colorado 80210 or the Catholic Charities Good Samaritan House, P.O. Box 10028. Denver, Colorado 80250. Please share memories of Mike and condolences with the family by signing the guest book below.