John Arthur Clements

John A Clements, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Coach, and Sportsman, 83, of Terre Haute and formerly of Bargersville, Indiana passed away Friday, May 6, 2022. 

He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on July 25, 1938, to Arthur and Irene Clements.  He attended Wiley High School and obtained his BS and MS in Education from Indiana State College. He was a member of the I-Man Club at Indiana State 1956-1960 for football and baseball.  He married Dorothy Parker Clements on May 28,1960 at the Corinth Baptist Church in Martinsville, Indiana.

His first teaching position was with Avon High School and then began teaching and coaching at Center Grove in the fall of 1961. At CG he was taught biology and PE.  He coached football, wrestling, basketball, golf and baseball and ended his career in 1996 as Athletic Director.  During his career he added three boys sports to the corporation, worked closely with the Adult Booster Club and hosted IHSSA tournaments for several sports.  His son Otto and grandson Aaron followed in his footsteps coaching football.

John loved spending time with his grandchildren.  He took them camping and fishing, taught them about native birds, and they would collect walnuts from the woods.  They would all sit and crack the walnuts and he would share stories with the grandchildren of his boyhood.  John was an avid sportsman enjoying golf, fishing, and hunting.  He enjoyed gardening, especially tomatoes.

John and Dorothy lived in Bargersville for nearly 60 years where they raised their children, Christine Clements Rossman and Otto Clements.

John is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Dorothy, daughter Christine (Clements) Rossman (Albert), son Otto Clements (Susan), grandchildren Samantha (Rossman) Fransham (Martin), Bryan Parker Rossman, Sara Ann Rossman, Aaron Clements (Alex), and Anna Clements Clark (William); great-grandchildren Vivian-Rose Fransham, William John Clark and one on the way. He was preceded by his parents and his brother Robert “Bob” Clements.

Visitation will be held Saturday, May 14 at DeBaun Springhill Chapel from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Service will begin at 1:00 p.m. Reverend Jeff Lee will be officiating.  Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in is name to the Center Grove Education Fund at www.centergrovefoundation.org or the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org .  Online condolences may be made to www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.

*A memorial visitation will be held Friday, May 13, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Swartz Funeral Home in Franklin, IN.

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