Krista J. Clark, 72 of Elkhorn, WI, passed away after a long battle with kidney and liver disease on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee.

Krista was born December 15, 1950 in South Bend, IN, the daughter of the late Eugene J. and Gertrude J. (Keresztes) Oswald.

Krista was united in marriage to John S. Clark on June 16, 1973, at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, IL.

She was a very talented musician with a beautiful singing voice. She loved to garden, needlepoint, and sew and was an excellent cook and baker, skills learned from her Hungarian grandmother. She enjoyed the outdoors and cruising on the pontoon boat on Duck Lake with her family.

She earned her teaching degree at Loyola University in Chicago. While studying there, she worked as assistant to the school's athletic director–a job that would introduce her to her future husband. After they were married, they moved from Chicago to Iron River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She then taught at Watersmeet High School and Gogebic Community College Adult Education.

She and John lived in a number of communities across the country, including Chicago, Illinois, Iron River, Michigan, Manitowoc and Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Greenville, Mississippi, Portsmouth and Delaware, Ohio, LaGrange, Georgia and Pierre, South Dakota, until they retired to Elkhorn.

Krista was friendly, approachable, and was always available to listen to anyone who wanted to talk. When the kids invited their friends to their house,  the group usually moved into the living room to share stories with Krista.

Her friends and family will remember her for her ability to plan and execute the perfect party, her love of Christmas decor, and her sharp wit. She had a deep appreciation for the arts, which led her to jobs with the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Fine Arts Department, the Greenville Arts Council and Main Street Portsmouth.

She was a scrabble master, had an appreciation for wordplay, and never lost her sense of humor. She worked for the Iron River Reporter and the Lakeshore Chronicle as a copy editor.

Krista loved her family dearly and will be deeply missed by her husband, children, relatives, and grandchildren.

Krista is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, John, their two children, Lauren (Frank) Ibarra and John (Zenia) Clark, two grandchildren, Marielle and Elaina Clark, her brother, Eric (Bonnie) Oswald and her beloved cat, Cubby. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 AM on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Homes and Crematory, 730 N. Wisconsin St. Elkhorn, WI.  Visitation will be 10:00 AM until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.  Internment will be 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Elkhorn, WI.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Krista's name may be directed to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, 225 E. Chicago Av., Chicago, IL 60611.

Online guest book at www.haaselockwoodfhs.com.  Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Homes and Crematory completed arrangements with the Clark Family.

Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital
225 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago IL 60611
Tel: 1-312-227-4000
Web: https://my.luriechildrens.org/page/55574/donate/