Clarence John Sharpe, age 88 years and 10 months, a life-long resident of Superior, Wisconsin, peacefully passed away at Essentia Health/St. Mary's Hospice, on April 23, 2012, surrounded by his family.

He was born on June 17, 1923, in Superior, Wisconsin, to Margaret (McPhee) Sharpe and Clarence D. Sharpe, and attended school at St. Louis Parochial School in Superior, Wisconsin.

He served his country in the Army during World War II as a machine gunner with the "Fighting 69th" Infantry Division in Europe. He and his buddies were the first to meet the Soviet troops at the River Elbe, cementing the end of Nazi Germany. He was quiet about his experiences in the European theater, yet proud of his service and prized his Combat Infantry badge. In his later years he enjoyed meeting other veterans of his era and talking about their common experience.

After the War, he met and married Cathryn Marie Crusher with whom he had three children.Tragically, Cathryn was diagnosed with cancer at a young age, and despite a brave fight against it she passed away in 1974, at the all-too-young age of 47. He was a life-long member of the International Laborers Union and had the distinction at the time of his death to be one of nine 'Gold Card' members in the U.S. whose membership in the Union exceeded 60 years. Early in his work-life he was employed by Ellis Plumbing Company and Belknap Plumbing & Heating Company. Later, he became a long-term employee of Stack Brother's Company in Superior, WI from which he retired. He enjoyed the people with whom he worked, and had very mixed feelings about retirement. However, despite his initial anxiety, he soon adjusted to retirement and enjoyed it.

As a widower, he met a widow, Adeline Prine, and they were married on November 11, 1978. They lived in the East End of Superior for 28 years, until their health necessitated a move. In August of 2006, they moved to a two bedroom apartment in the then newly constructed independent living unit of Edgewood Vista in Hermantown, Minnesota.

Clarence enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors. In his younger days, he liked to fish and was a very good horse-shoe player. He read his newspaper daily and looked forward to watching football on television. He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, and sported various articles of Green Bay Packer clothing. Walking gave him pleasure, and he made it a point to walk as much as he could daily and often met with friends and acquaintances over a cup of coffee at the McDonald's Restaurant in Superior prior to relocating to Hermantown. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Elks Club of Superior.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Cathryn; his sister, Isabelle Sharpe McConnell and a brother, Hugh Kernan.

Among those who survive him are his wife, Adeline (Prine) Sharpe; his sons, Clarence T. (Connie) Sharpe of Esko, Minn., Michael N. (Maureen) Sharpe of Circle Pines, Minn. and daughter, Joan Elizabeth (Ted) Dahlgren of Duluth, Minn.; granddaughters, Catherine (Christopher Hanson) Stefanowski of Duluth, Whitney (Josh) Burg of Hopkins, Minn.; grandson, Ryan M. Sharpe, currently in Japan; one great grandchild, Oliver Hanson of Duluth; one brother, Thomas (Shirley) Sharpe of Cedar Springs, Mich.; as well as Adeline's children, Terry Prine, Roger (Yoko) Prine and Floy Ann (Charles) Nikolai and Adeline's grandchildren.

His funeral service will be held on Friday, Apr. 27 at 10:30a.m. in Downs Funeral Home, corner of 19th St. and Ogden Ave., Superior. Rev. Fr. James Tobolski will officiate. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, 3424 Highway 105, Superior, Wis., with military honors accorded by the Richard I. Bong American Legion Post #435.