David Clemens

David Kirk Clemens will be remembered as a charismatic, devoted and loving father. He passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. 

David was born on December 13, 1939 to Arnold Wayne Clemens and Grace Josephine Kirk in Kansas City, Missouri. After Grace passed away at the young age of 32, Arnold married Francise Elizabeth Batterton in 1943. Francise stepped into the role of mother with enthusiasm and boundless love for David, his twin brother John, and their older brother Wayne.

 

The brothers would often recount shenanigans from their younger years living on Dorothy Drive in Glendale, California, where Dave and John amused themselves by racing boxcars down the hill, prank calling the local liquor store ("Do you have Prince Albert in a can?") and pretending to hold a chain across the street so that passing cars would screech to a halt in fright. For the rest of their lives, anytime the twins were in the same room that same mischievous youthful spirit would manifest, to the delight of everyone who knew them. 

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After graduating from Herbert Hoover High School in 1957, David went on to study at Southern Illinois University, where he graduated in 1964. He served in the US Army for a short time at Fort Ord, California, and was honorably discharged in November 1967. 

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After graduation, David worked first at Sears and later at the textile company, Rockland Industries. Then, at the age of almost 60, he left his job to single-handedly start and run his own small business out of the spare bedroom at 17 Butler Street; a business which he archly decided to christen "Nationwide Textiles". This required him to learn new technology, billing and accounting, and all the ins and outs of working with suppliers from as far away as Pakistan. It was an against-all–odds proposition, as he was competing against much larger, established companies in the industry. But he found a way to make the business a success for many years before retiring. 

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David was an outstanding father who raised his daughters to be strong and independent humans.  As a dad he was devoted and selfless, and he worked tirelessly to create a beautiful and safe home for his family.  In between all the cooking, cleaning, after school playdates, shopping, ponytails and dating advice, he never missed one of Amy’s rowing meets or Ashley’s choir performances. He was a professional-grade bedtime story teller who did endless encores and ALL the voices. Aside from insisting they do household chores (considered the highest possible injustice by his two teenagers), he indulged his daughters in almost all things, and made sure they wanted for nothing. David, Ashley and Amy were a great team until the last day of his earthly life. 

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David was a lifelong golfer. He played for decades on courses all over the country and famously would often remember every round and every hole played. He was a true student of the swing and loved to share his wisdom as the de facto golf coach for his friends and family. One of his favorite memories was playing golf with his granddaughter, Macie, and he was extremely proud of her in all respects.  

David had music in his soul. He played piano beautifully by ear, and loved artists from every decade and genre. If it was good, he was into it, and could easily be moved to tears by a great tune by Willie Nelson, Nora Jones, or Coldplay.  

 

A joker at heart, David could charm his way out of (or into) any situation.  Nothing made him happier than fooling around to make others laugh.

 

He had many dog loves over the course of his life, including the almost-invincible boxer, Mark, and the sweet-but-dumb cocker spaniel Sadie, whom he cared for lovingly for many years, and with whom he would often share a quart of rocky road ice cream in front of the TV.  He was hopelessly enamored with his "granddog", Brando. 

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He was proud to be a fan of the LA Rams, the Chargers, and the 49ers. He was less proud to be a fan of The Masked Singer, Judge Judy, and eating raw cookie dough straight from the freezer. 

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Thanks to the extraordinary people at Silverado Newport Mesa Memory Care, David spent the final months of his life surrounded by loving care and friendship.  

David was predeceased by his brothers John and Wayne Clemens. He is survived by his daughters Amy Clemens and Ashley Thomas, his sons-in-law Sergei Andruha and Robert Thomas, his granddaughter Maria Andruha, his sisters-in-law Barbara and Karyl Clemens, and his nieces and nephews Bob and Shelley Clemens, Jim and Karen Clemens, Sandy Scott and Paul Reilly, Sam, Sean and Katherine Clemens, and Heather and Bryan Scott. 

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In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Silverado Foundation, the Alzheimer's Association, or the Tapir Specialist Group.