Michael Clemens

Michael John Clemens 73, of Green Valley, AZ, formerly of St. Charles and Naperville, IL, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 21, 2023, at Arroyo Gardens, Green Valley, AZ, with family by his side.

Mike was born on January 7, 1950, in Red Wing, MN, to the late Donald and Iydell (nee Bluhm) Clemens. Dear husband of Lori (nee Bonk); loving father of Rachel (Gerry) Pfleging, Scott (Jessie), Jonathan, and Catherine, and stepfather of Nicholas (Alexandria) Wittig; devoted grandfather of Jackson and Cooper Clemens and Penelope Wittig; cherished brother of Joe (Becky), Pat (Jim) Allured, Tony (Mary), David (Linda), Lance (Julie), and the late Thomas and James Clemens; and loved by many more surviving cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Growing up in Wheaton, IL, as the middle child of six brothers and one sister, Mike developed a strong work ethic and competitive spirit. He graduated from Wheaton North, and then became the first in his family to graduate from college. Mike received his Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana – Champaign. He continued to California to complete a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering at Stanford University, while working for Lockheed Martin.

Mike pursued a job at General Motors in Michigan which eventually got the family back to Naperville, IL, where he spent most of his career as a Professional Engineer at Packer Engineering. Mike’s final professional endeavor was more entrepreneurial in nature. He and three colleagues formed a consulting firm, Unified Engineering, in Aurora, IL. Being able to work and live in Naperville allowed Mike to support his four children in their wide and varied athletic, academic, musical, and other pursuits for the better part of 32 years. Always a huge supporter of their careers and desire to chase their dreams, Michael played a large part in forming all four children into the adults they are today.

Some of Mike’s hobbies included photography, building model rockets and planes, and riding motorcycles. He was also known to try some “disco boogie” moves at family weddings and enjoyed singing all kinds of tunes on long family road trips to Florida. As Mike started winding down his engineering projects in the late 2000s, he started spending more time riding his motorcycle, developing an interest in pickleball, and building a relationship with his wife Lori. Mike and Lori eloped to Las Vegas at the Little White Chapel on October 18, 2008. After the wedding, Mike and Lori returned to St. Charles, IL, where they lived until they retired and moved to Green Valley, AZ, in order to escape the snow. Since 2012, Mike enjoyed riding his Honda Goldwing, playing pickleball more competitively, golfing, and playing volleyball. He also played poker and cribbage. A favorite activity was going to the casino with Lori and her mom.

Mike gladly served on the Green Valley Links HOA board. He was always one of the first people to volunteer to help with any projects such as repairing and painting the gates and rebuilding the neighborhood bridge. He also enjoyed volunteering as a Docent at the Titan Missile Museum.

At this time, services are pending; with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at https://givenow.lls.org/ .