Obituary for Clemm Erik Larsen
LARSEN: Clemm Erik, age 89 years, passed away on Monday, April 26th, 2021 at Brandon Regional Health Centre.
Clemm was born in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick on December 21st, 1931. Raised in Apple River, Nova Scotia, he was the son of the late Carl Madvig and Mary Alice (Field) Larsen. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in January 1949 at the age of seventeen and served over twenty-seven years as an Air Traffic Controller; retiring as a Master Warrant Officer.
His Air Force career took him from Goose Bay, Labrador to Zweibrucken, Germany, back to the East Coast where he retired in Shearwater, Nova Scotia. He served all RCAF bases east of Montreal. At one time, Clemm was believed to be the youngest Flight Sergeant in the post-war RCAF at twenty-four years of age.
Clemm managed the Annapolis County Exhibition from 1977 to 1980. During that time, the large main entrance building was constructed and many improvements to the buildings and grounds were carried out.
He was appointed to the Nova Scotia Health Services and Insurance Commission in 1979 and served there for twelve years, the last ten as Chairman, retiring in December 1991.
Clemm belonged to the Masonic Lodge for sixty-six years and was a longtime member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He was an avid fisherman, gardener and genealogist. Clemm was very interested in the local history of Nova Scotia, being descended on his mother’s side from the founders of Halifax, at least seven Loyalist officers, the New England Planters and the Yorkshire settlers. He wrote two books, Away Down Shore and More Down Shore, which combined his personal recollections and detailed knowledge of the Cape Chignecto region in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.
As well, Clemm was proud of his Danish roots and maintained close contact with his family from Denmark. He visited the island of Laeso, his father’s homeland, five times over the years.
Many fond memories were made at his home in Wards Brook, Nova Scotia overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Clemm had the “million-dollar view” of the ocean from his deck and he welcomed friends and relatives to come, relax and stay awhile. Beachcombing, campfires, clam digging, dulsing, berry picking, lobster suppers and quad rides were all part of the enjoyable times spent at Clemm’s acreage on “Larsen Lane.”
After relocating to Manitoba, Clemm volunteered at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum for seventeen years. He appreciated his time assisting with the Museum’s World War II archives and made many good friends there as well.
Clemm is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis; son Kristofer (Lynne) Larsen, daughter Kathryn (Roger) Sturtevant, stepdaughter Trina (Stephen) Hayter, and stepson David (Melissa) Thickens. He also leaves to mourn his sisters, Herdis (late Ernest) Ferguson and Laura Dawn (David) Bezanson; grandchildren Tim (Nikki) and Nick Warren, Yvonne, Bianca and Carl Olivotto, Emma and Andrew Hayter and Foster and Greyson Thickens; great-grandson Jacob Warren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Diane Larsen; brothers Peter and Olaf Larsen; sister Edith Fillmore and former wife, Susan.
Memorial donations may be made to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Box 3 Group 520 RR#5, Brandon, MB R7A5Y5. Online condolences at www.memorieschapel.com.
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.
-H. W. Longfellow
Clemm was born in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick on December 21st, 1931. Raised in Apple River, Nova Scotia, he was the son of the late Carl Madvig and Mary Alice (Field) Larsen. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in January 1949 at the age of seventeen and served over twenty-seven years as an Air Traffic Controller; retiring as a Master Warrant Officer.
His Air Force career took him from Goose Bay, Labrador to Zweibrucken, Germany, back to the East Coast where he retired in Shearwater, Nova Scotia. He served all RCAF bases east of Montreal. At one time, Clemm was believed to be the youngest Flight Sergeant in the post-war RCAF at twenty-four years of age.
Clemm managed the Annapolis County Exhibition from 1977 to 1980. During that time, the large main entrance building was constructed and many improvements to the buildings and grounds were carried out.
He was appointed to the Nova Scotia Health Services and Insurance Commission in 1979 and served there for twelve years, the last ten as Chairman, retiring in December 1991.
Clemm belonged to the Masonic Lodge for sixty-six years and was a longtime member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He was an avid fisherman, gardener and genealogist. Clemm was very interested in the local history of Nova Scotia, being descended on his mother’s side from the founders of Halifax, at least seven Loyalist officers, the New England Planters and the Yorkshire settlers. He wrote two books, Away Down Shore and More Down Shore, which combined his personal recollections and detailed knowledge of the Cape Chignecto region in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.
As well, Clemm was proud of his Danish roots and maintained close contact with his family from Denmark. He visited the island of Laeso, his father’s homeland, five times over the years.
Many fond memories were made at his home in Wards Brook, Nova Scotia overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Clemm had the “million-dollar view” of the ocean from his deck and he welcomed friends and relatives to come, relax and stay awhile. Beachcombing, campfires, clam digging, dulsing, berry picking, lobster suppers and quad rides were all part of the enjoyable times spent at Clemm’s acreage on “Larsen Lane.”
After relocating to Manitoba, Clemm volunteered at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum for seventeen years. He appreciated his time assisting with the Museum’s World War II archives and made many good friends there as well.
Clemm is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis; son Kristofer (Lynne) Larsen, daughter Kathryn (Roger) Sturtevant, stepdaughter Trina (Stephen) Hayter, and stepson David (Melissa) Thickens. He also leaves to mourn his sisters, Herdis (late Ernest) Ferguson and Laura Dawn (David) Bezanson; grandchildren Tim (Nikki) and Nick Warren, Yvonne, Bianca and Carl Olivotto, Emma and Andrew Hayter and Foster and Greyson Thickens; great-grandson Jacob Warren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Diane Larsen; brothers Peter and Olaf Larsen; sister Edith Fillmore and former wife, Susan.
Memorial donations may be made to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Box 3 Group 520 RR#5, Brandon, MB R7A5Y5. Online condolences at www.memorieschapel.com.
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.
-H. W. Longfellow