Obituary for Clements E. “Clem” Hargraves

Clements E. “Clem” Hargraves age 87, of Stratford, passed away on Monday, May 17, 2021, at Marshfield Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Rozellville with Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam officiating. Full military honors will be conducted by Stratford VFW Post 6352 following the service. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Tuesday from 9 AM until time of service. The honor of pallbearer belongs to his grandsons: Jeremy, Christopher, Jon, Josh, Dustin, and Lane.

Clem was born on August 1, 1933, in the Town of Johnson, the son of Faithful and Magdalena (Gaiser) Hargraves. He graduated from Athens High School. On October 17, 1953, he was united in marriage to Joan Schug. Following his service in the United States Army from February 1956 until January 1958, he moved to Marshfield, WI. He was self-employed at Pure Gas Station/Baltus Co., then worked at Weyerhaeuser, and lastly worked for Stratford Homes as an electrician before then retiring.

He was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Rozellville.

Clem loved the International brand tractor and owned one or more of them throughout his life. He was an avid deer hunter who loved being outdoors with his son and family. In his later years, he enjoyed wordsearch puzzles, pressing his luck with scratch-off lottery tickets, or taking a ride on his 3-wheel bike. When they could, he and Joan enjoyed a morning out for breakfast and conversation with friends at the Wild Steer Diner in Stratford or Melody Gardens in Marshfield.

Those who will cherish his memory include his loving wife of 67 years, Joan of Stratford; his children, Gerald (Kathy) Hargraves, Rhonda (Vernon) VanDerLeest and Kimberly (Brian) Baasch, all of Stratford; his grandchildren, Jennifer (Bernie) Bock, Jon (Michelle) Gage, Jeremy (Michelle) Hargraves, Christopher Hargraves, Joshua (Joan) VanDerLeest, Elizabeth (Brian) Giles, Holly (Jason) Post, Dustin (Cassandra) Hauke, Natasha (Steve) Fleishman, Mathew (Nicole) Baasch, Lane Baasch, Gunner Baasch, and his 17 great-grandchildren along with many other relatives and friends.

Clem was preceded in death by his parents; his four brothers, Vernon, George, Marvin, and Robert, and his three sisters, Agnes, Wilma, and Magdalena.

His arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. Please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.