Anita Clark

Anita Clark, age 94, of Batavia, formerly of Ica, Peru in South America, passed away surrounded by the love and prayers of her family, Saturday, January 5, 2019. After many years of missionary work in His name, she now rests in the arms of her Heavenly Savior.
She was born on June 7, 1924, in Newark, NJ, to proud parents, Hugo and Dorothy (Volkheimer) Geissele.
Anita grew up in Maplewood, NJ and attended local schools. She graduated in 1942 from Columbia High School.
Anita and William James Clark were friends “from the neighborhood”. Introduced by Bill’s sister, Anita and Bill married in 1945. Once WWII ended, Bill was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps and returned to civilian life with Anita.
Anita and Bill moved to Toronto, Canada for three years while they both studied at Emmaus Bible School. They returned to New Jersey working with Maplewood Bible Chapel. They were sent as missionaries to Peru in 1951. There they helped share God’s word until 1976 when they changed their venue of service to Mexico and Guatemala as itinerant missionaries. Instead of staying in one place, Anita and Bill traveled in their trusty fifth-wheel camper to various places throughout Guatemala and Mexico. Bill passed away suddenly in 2000 while working in Guatemala, after which, Anita continued serving the Lord back in Peru, with visits to the U.S. for medical treatment. Her most recent furlough to the U.S. was to be her last in 2016, when she came to live with her daughter Becky, in Batavia. Her health may have declined, but her faith never did, and was the bedrock of her existence.
Anita was associated with Christian Missions In Many Lands, based in Spring Lake, NJ.
Anita was marked by hospitality and her encouragement to others and was well known for her cheerful, loving disposition. She was a “mother in the faith” to many, and throughout her travels, she became the “adopted grandmother” to countless in Guatemala, Mexico and Peru.
She is survived by six children: James (Sandie) Clark, Jonathan Clark, Joel Clark, Nancy Clark, Becky (Craig) Nasralla and Thomas (Carol) Clark; twelve grandchildren: Carlye (Steven) Daugird, Adam B. (Sophia) Clark, Aleksander (Kelly) Clark, Chas Clark, Bryan (Ty) Clark, Josi Clark, Lucy Clark, Michaela Clark, Nathanael (Erin) Nasralla, Rachael (Luke) Thorson, Rebekah Nasralla and Philip Nasralla; Ten great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and a circle of friends that bridged nations.
Anita is preceded in death by her parents, Hugo and Dorothy Geissele; her husband Bill Clark; four siblings: Delores Guter, Llaine Hundley, Jane Bacci and brother Bill Geissele.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Fox Valley Christian Church, 40W150 Main St, Batavia, IL 60510, with a funeral service to celebrate her life at 11 a.m. Burial will follow on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Blue River Cemetery, Detroit, IL.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Anita’s name to benefit the missionary and camp work in Peru and Guatemala. Checks may be made to the “Anita Clark Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com for Anita‘s full life story.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Fox Valley Christian Church, 40W150 Main St, Batavia, IL 60510, with a funeral service to celebrate her life at 11 a.m. Burial will follow on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Blue River Cemetery, Detroit, IL.

Blue River Cemetery, Detroit, IL.