Clark Cason

Clark Gene Cason, age 72, LaHarpe, Kansas, passed peacefully in his sleep on June 21, 2025.

He was born in Iola, Kansas, at St. John’s Hospital on July 28, 1952, to Bob and Pauline (Sexton) Cason.

He graduated from Iola High School  in 1971, where he was a track and cross-country star. After high school, he earned a certificate in Automobile Mechanics at the Beloit Campus of Fort Hays Technical. 

Later in life, he took classes at Allen Community College. He graduated from Graham School for Cattlemen where he learned how to artificially inseminate cows. He was especially excited about this new skill and would go into great detail explaining the process to friends and family.

Clark was a worker! He spent his childhood summers in Texas, unwillingly following in the family business, S.E. Cason & Son Produce. He started his official employment at 14, working at King’s Sandwich Shop and was happy to actually be paid for his labor. Along with working as a mechanic in his early adult life, he also worked in the oilfields. In 1976, he took a job at Gates Rubber Company and worked there for 33 years. He was proud of his many trips to Mexico with Gates, where he helped set up new production plants there. 

His lifelong love of anything outdoors was his inspiration to open his own gun and sporting goods shop. He loved visiting with all the sportsmen (and women) in the area when they would come to his shop to buy or just to visit. Clark was an expert visitor. He could talk to anyone about anything……for hours. He never knew a stranger!

Over the years, Clark owned horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, and cats. He was happiest when on his farm, visiting with family and friends.

When his wife Donna became too ill to work, Clark sold his cattle, closed the gun shop, and became her full-time caregiver. The level of care he provided for Donna was remarkable.

Clark married his high school sweetheart, Caroline (Hood) Cason one year after high school. They were married for 12 years and had two children, Christopher and Carrie. Clark and Caroline remained great friends, even celebrating holidays together with the kids and grandkids.

In 1986 he met and married Donna (Witt) Cason. They were two peas in a pod. They enjoyed traveling and attended many Mountain Man Rendezvous where they would get together with other like-minded folks to reenact the 19th century American West trading posts. These events were lively affairs that included socializing, storytelling and demonstrating skills like blacksmithing, leatherworking and flint knapping. He was proficient at ax throwing and restoring and shooting black powder guns.

While Donna was still employed at Allen Community College, she and Clark took in several homesick out-of-state students. They provided a loving secondary home and adoptive family to several kids, now adults who have remained lifelong friends.

Speaking of secondary families, we cannot forget to mention Russ and Tina Gardner and the early morning coffee crowd from Tina’s Place, where Clark could be found bright and early every morning Tina’s was open.

After Donna’s passing in 2019, he kept himself busy with all kinds of hobbies. He collected coins, guns, fishing poles, and woodworking tools. He had recently turned his gun shop building into a woodworking shop. He enjoyed online auctions, restoring antique furniture and was becoming quite the cook. He taught himself how to bake bread, among other things and had recently mastered sous vide cooking. He loved genealogy and had traced his lineage back hundreds of years. He was a member of the Iola Elks Lodge No. 569.

Clark was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Pauline Cason and his wife, Donna (Witt) Cason.

Clark is survived by his first wife Caroline Cason, Iola; son, Christopher, Liberty, Mo.; daughter, Carrie, Iola; siblings. Carol Cason-Hedden, Iola, Michael Cason, Olathe, Connie Cason, Iola; daughter-in-law, Amie Cason, Kearney, Mo.; grandchildren Logan Cason, Liberty, Mo., Lucas Cason, Kearney, Mo., Taylor Cason, Kearney, Mo. and Megan Cason, Pleasant Valley, Mo., along with many nieces and nephews.

Clark’s family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 7, at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Venue in Iola. 

A memorial service is at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, at the funeral home. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Allen County Animal Rescue Facility and left with the funeral home.

Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.